What We Can Learn From Jesus' Nativity: The Magnificat (Luke 1:46-53)

Luke 1:46-56

And Mary said:

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord ⁴⁷and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour; 48 because he has looked upon the humiliation of his servant.

Yes, from now onwards all generations will call me blessed, ⁴⁹for the Almighty has done great things for me.

Holy is his name, ⁵⁰and his faithful love extends age after age to those who fear him.

⁵¹He has used the power of his arm, he has routed the arrogant of heart.

⁵²He has pulled down princes from their thrones and raised high the lowly.

⁵³He has filled the starving with good things, sent the rich away empty.

⁵⁴He has come to the help of Israel his servant, mindful of his faithful love ⁵⁵ -according to the promise he made to our ancestors -- of his mercy to Abraham and to his descendants for ever.

⁵⁶Mary stayed with her some three months and then went home.

1.  Mary went through some difficult things as a result of her accepting the mission God gave her. Luke 1:48 speaks of her “humiliation.” We know from Matthew 1:18-19 that her pregnancy strained her relationship with Joseph. If Sirach 42:9-10 correctly described the prevailing familial norms we can infer that her pregnancy also strained her relationship with her family.

2.  That explains why Mary was so joyful when her mission was ratified by Elizabeth’s pregnancy.  Mary was probably thrilled both by what was ratified and God’s graciousness in providing the ratification.

3.  Mary’s reaction to the difficulties she went through in executing God’s plan reflect several of the principles for dealing with such difficulties described in Sirach 2:

a.       Both reflect humble acceptance of those difficulties. Compare Luke 1:48, 52 and Sirach 2:4-5, 17.

b.      Both counsel looking forward to the good that will come from faithful execution of God’s will. Compare Luke 1:48, 53 with Sirach 2:8-9.

c.       Both counsel consideration of God’s past faithfulness as a means of reassurance during present difficulties. Compare Luke 1:50 with Sirach 2:10.

d.      Both highlight God’s faithfulness in helping His servants meet their present difficulties. Compare Luke 1:50, 54 with Sirach 2:6,10-11. 

  

4.  Those precepts gave Mary the strength to continue. Luke 1:56 tell us that Mary “went home,” probably to a very awkward situation.

5.  The humiliation/difficulty Mary went through tells us that the fact that we are going through difficulties does not mean that we are out of God’s will. Mary was clearly in God’s will, as was Joseph, and Jesus, but they all went through tough things.

Other meditations on Jesus’ nativity are collected at What We Can Learn from Jesus' Nativity: The Annunciation through Simeon & Anna