My Soul Magnifies the Lord

God on the Ground - Day 10 (Merry Christmas, friends!)

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Day 10 - My Soul Magnifies the Lord

For he made this promise to our ancestors, to Abraham and his children forever.” - Luke 2:46-55

Panning out from the manger, the story of Jesus’ birth is a riot of unexpected neighbors; elderly women and teenaged cousins, angels and criminals, sky-watchers and eccentrics. The path to the Messiah is worn down by those with eyes to see and the guts to believe. It is an altar to tattered sandals, chilly nights, and aching throats; a tale of a young family on the run, power-mongering, murder plots, and unspeakable relief.

All of this is true.

But it begins with a girl, Jesus’ mom, when she was simply Mary.

“I am the Lord’s servant,” she said to the angel.

And then, she sang.

The Magnificat, Mary’s song of praise, is the longest recorded text of any woman in the New Testament. It’s a response to Elizabeth, Mary’s cousin and the expectant mother of John the Baptist, who said, “You are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what he said.”

Even more, it’s a reminder for regular people like us who struggle with belief and resist low places in favor of personal achievement, power, and status.

The Magnificat (and therefore, Mary) has been a threat to kings, dictators, and average, power-hungry people for thousands of years. In fact, this revolutionary song has been banned by various oppressive regimes throughout history, including in Guatemala as recently as the 1980’s.

German theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote, “This song has none of the sweet, nostalgic, or even playful tones of some of our Christmas carols. It is instead a hard, strong, inexorable song about collapsing thrones and humbled lords of this world, about the power of God and the powerlessness of humankind. These are the tones of the women prophets of the Old Testament that now come to life in Mary’s mouth.”

Mary’s radical prophecy of social disruption was fulfilled the moment God’s cries punctured the night. Her words proved true. Jesus brought rejoicing and blessings for all generations. He was (and is) mighty and merciful. He exalts the humble and fills the hungry with good things. Her son remembers those who wait. He keeps his promises, forever.

Because God chose to build a home in the ruins of biology, we too are counted among God’s neighbors. Mary’s words ring out for us. Our task, then, is to recognize ourselves not only as humble and hungry, like her, but as problematic princes on thrones, like David. We are both shepherd and king, prophet and mystic, swept to safety by the strong arms of Immanuel.

Mary, our revolutionary mother of the nativity, delivers a powerful reminder that Jesus came not merely for personal salvation, but for collective liberation. Yes, she knew. She knew people would try to bend her baby boy’s purpose around their own agendas. She knew the blessing would be laced with pain.

Jesus’ mom, shaped by oppression and resistance, knew. So she set the record straight, right from the start, for all who have ears to hear.

The Magnificat

Mary responded, “Oh, how my soul praises the Lord. How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!

For he took notice of his lowly servant girl, and from now on all generations will call me blessed.

For the Mighty One is holy, and he has done great things for me.

He shows mercy from generation to generation to all who fear him.

His mighty arm has done tremendous things! He has scattered the proud and haughty ones.

He has brought down princes from their thrones and exalted the humble.

He has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away with empty hands.

He has helped his servant Israel and remembered to be merciful.

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This concludes God on the Ground, 2022.

Thank you for joining me in examining this story of God arriving in the thick of night, ushered in by the ordinary prophets and mixed-up saints among us. Seeing ourselves in these unexpected neighbors to the nativity has the power to change us, which in turn, can change the world. Hello, hope.

“In order for hope to be real it has to be free. No gatekeepers. No restraints. Viewed from the contagion of empathy, there is no end to the capacity within us to root for, fight for, and hope for each other. We can offer the world around us what our own hearts crave.” - Start with Hello

(If you happen to be new around here - Welcome! - my recent release, quoted above, is a field guide for everyday connection and a beautiful way to kick off the new year.)

Wherever you are, I hope this Christmas offers what you need.

Wishing you comfort in the chaos and joy for the journey.

Love,

Shannan