Fourth Sunday of Advent (C), December 21, 2003

Luke 1:46-55 in the Latin Bible reads, "Magnifcat anima mea, Dominum." "My soul magnifies the Lord."

The Magnifcat, a Way Point in the Gospel journey.

Astrophysicist Robt J. Meniroff explains that Venus, the second closest planet to the sun, is often used as a way-point. This means spacecraft directed toward the planets in the outer reaches of our universe are first sent toward Venus to gain energy and save fuel for their long interplanetary journey.

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When the Christian studies and prays the Magnificat, his or her spiritual journey is energized and directed farther and deeper into relationship with God. Of course, the entire New Testament magnifies — makes easily seen — what God has done through his Son, Jesus Christ. But the Magnificat can be a way-point on our journey through God’s never ending gospel.

The Gospel for us in Mary’s Song.

As we come to the Magnificat we can realize that Mary’s song in itself is an act of God’s grace. Her ability to sing such a song is an act of sovereign grace. She refers to herself as only a "handmaiden," a slave of the most high God. God provided and preserved the holy song in Scripture for us.

When Mary proclaims, "He has regarded the lowly estate of His handmaiden," her words tell us that Mary’s song is not to exult Mary but to show forth the character of God. God is big enough; He can even notice this apparently insignificant person in the midst of all His creation. Mary’s very being, who she is, uniquely made and appointed to a God-task, magnifies, shows to all, God has touched her.

The Song of Mary is a song of God’s prophetic Word. One can find within Mary’s Song similarities to the Canticle of Anna in I Kings, parts of various Psalms, Habakkuk, Malachi, Job, and Genesis. God who has always been saving His people will continue to do so through the person of Jesus, the fruit of Mary’s womb. God touches Mary as He who saves, not just nations or kings, but the lowly poor.

It is the message that is reiterated, echoed, and expanded through Jesus’ life and teaching. The one whom Mary birthed came to the lowly as savior, Giver of grace and mercy. Jesus’ teaching about the kingdom of God proclaimed that God himself cares for and notices even the poor.

Mary’s song gives us words to join in the proclamation that God is Almighty, All Powerful, the Strong One. As we make her song our own, we open ourselves to God’s reign in our hearts, minds, and souls.

In praising God for who He is and what He has done Mary is receiving God’s momentum from the energy of her call and response that she might be thrust into the adventure of life of being Mary, the Mother of God Jesus Christ.

Her song of praise is a way-point for the years of her Son’s teaching, the manifestation of her Son’s divine authority through signs and wonders, the unspeakable horror of her Son’s death and her witness to her Son’s resurrection and power.

Mary the Worshiper, then Mary the Worker.

To slip the gravity of earth one must find a force great enough to be thrust from the earth toward the stars. Mary was able to slip the gravity of her lowly estate when she received God’s Word for her and allowed herself to be drawn into God’s life’s work for her. When we pray the Magnificat we too join the God-directed life and find a way-point where we can be thrust from the "fallenness" of earth into life in God’s presence, "on earth as it is in Heaven." With Mary, let us sing,Magnficat anima mea, Dominum, "My soul magnifies the Lord."

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Sermon brief provided by Carolyn Volentine, Pastor, United Methodist Church, DeQuincy, LA.