Worship At Home - December  

Luke 1: 46-55
And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour, for he has been
mindful of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me— holy is his name. His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation.
He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble.
He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel,
remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he promised our ancestors.”
 
 Reflection

When the angel Gabriel (1:26) told the young virgin Mary that she was going to have a child who would be the Son of God and reign over the house of Jacob forever (1:32f.), she said, "How can this be?" He answered her that the Holy Spirit would come upon her so that the child's conception would be divine. And then he gave Mary the added confirmation that nothing is impossible with God by telling her that her kinswoman Elizabeth who was old and barren was also pregnant.
Scripture tells us that Mary went to visit Elizabeth and whilst speaking the baby in Elizabeth leapt for joy. 
 
That's all the confirmation Mary needs. She sees clearly a most remarkable thing about God: He is about to change the course of all human history; the most important three decades in all of time are about to begin. And where is God? Occupying himself with two obscure, humble women—one old and barren, one young and virginal. And Mary is so moved by this vision of God, the lover of the lowly, that she breaks out in song—a song that has come to be known as the Magnificat.

Mary and Elizabeth are wonderful heroines in Luke's account. He loves the faith of these women. The thing that impresses him most, it appears, and the thing he wants to impress on Theophilus, his noble reader, is the lowliness and cheerful humility of Elizabeth and Mary. Elizabeth says (1:43): "And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord would come to me?" And Mary says (1:48): "The Lord has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden." The only people whose soul can truly magnify the Lord are people like Elizabeth and Mary—people who acknowledge their lowly estate and are overwhelmed by the condescension of the magnificent God.

We can read Mary's song and say, "Oh, what wonderful thoughts!" But do we really take seriously what she said? When I do this, I must confess that the "Magnificat" unsettles me. Why? Because it challenges me to consider my values and goals. Am I striving for the wrong things in life? How much of my life is devoted to seeking security, reputation, and power? How often do I hold on to my material blessings rather than sharing them with the poor and hungry? May our hearts respond like Mary and full and total surrender.
 
Prayers
Lord, your birth transcends all time, and unites heaven and earth in prayer and praise.

As you reached out for us in our need of a saviour, may we reach out beyond our comforts and privileges to embrace the needs of all people today.

As we remember those in and through whom  your love was revealed at Bethlehem, help us to make Christmas a time of prayer and action for the world’s poor and vulnerable.

We remember especially our family and friends may we reveal your love and grace to them.

We pray for all unwell and anxious may they know your peace.

We pray for all who mourn may they and we know your near presence.

We pray for ourselves that we may embrace and welcome again the Christ child to us that our soul’s may be glorified. Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer
 
Further Pondering

Do you remember the story of Hannah? Hannah had no children and was abused by other women because of it, and she prayed earnestly that the Lord would give her a son. And he did and Hannah sings her song:
"My heart exults in the Lord; my strength is exalted in the Lord. My mouth derides my enemies, because I rejoice in thy salvation. There is none holy like the Lord, there is none besides thee; there is no rock like our God. Talk no more so very proudly, let not arrogance come from your mouth; for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed. The bows of the mighty are broken, but the feeble gird on strength. Those who were full have hired
themselves out for bread, but those who were hungry have ceased to hunger. The barren has borne seven, but she who has many children is forlorn”.
The full prayer can be found in 1 Samuel. What similarities between Mary and Hannah.
 
What would our response have been?
 
Song: