Magnificat
This is the title commonly
given to the Latin text and vernacular translation of the Canticle (or Song)
of Mary. It is the opening word of the Vulgate text (Luke, i, 46-55):
"Magnificat anima mea, Dominum", etc. (My soul doth magnify the
Lord, etc.).
Luke 1:41
When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and
Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 In a loud voice she exclaimed:
"Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! 43
But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 As
soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped
for joy. 45 Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her
will be accomplished!" 46 And Mary said: "My soul glorifies the Lord
47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48 for he has been mindful of the
humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed,
49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me-- holy is his name. 50 His
mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. 51 He has
performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in
their inmost thoughts. 52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones but
has lifted up the humble. 53 He has filled the hungry with good things but has
sent the rich away empty. 54 He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to
be merciful 55 to Abraham and his descendants forever, even as he said to our
fathers." 56 Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then
returned home.
Why should we glorify the
Lord and rejoice at this Christmas season?
Because we are blessed.
1.
Blessed is Elizabeth: Blessed
means to be made happy by God. Why was Elizabeth blessed on this occasion?
She was carrying in her womb the baby called John the Baptist.
He would be the one who would prepare the way for the one to come
after. She was blessed because
she was chosen by God to bear this son. God
blessed her because Mary had come to visit her. Why was she favored over others?
God had chosen her because He wanted to, but also because she wanted a
son. She wanted God to intervene
in her life. She wanted God.
Do we want God this Christmas? The
baby in her leaped because God was there.
He was happy too. He must
have known. If the baby in the
womb knew is it possible for us to know that God is here?
2.
Blessed is Mary: Why
was Mary blessed? The Lord chose
her. She was a virgin of humble
estate. The Lord had
planned for Mary to be born and for Mary to bear the Son of God.
45 Blessed is she who has believed that what
the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!"
She had believed in God and believed that the Lord could
accomplish this miracle of the virgin birth.
Do we believe that Lord can do what He said He would do?
Could He save us? Could He give us new life, hope, peace, and joy?
3.
Blessed is Jesus: Why
was this child that Mary carried so different?
He was miraculously conceived within the virgin.
Without a human father His Father is the heavenly Father.
He is God with us or Emmanuel. He
is the One chosen by the Father to be the Sacrifice for the world.
Because of Him we would all be blessed.
Because of Him we have this holy day called Christmas.
We remember His first coming or advent.
He is the One and Only. He
is Christ our Lord. Is He your
Lord?
4.
Blessed are we: We
are blessed to be here today to worship the Lord and to hear this story again. We are blessed today to know that there is a one true living
God who loved us so much that He came to us.
We are blessed today because we read these stories of the common
everyday folk who were chosen by God to be his servants.
We are blessed today that they said yes I believe.
I believe and I will be what God wants me to be.
I believe and I will do what God wants me to do.
Here is Mary’s response to what she heard Elizabeth say about her.
Mary’s Song: v. 46-55
My soul glorifies the
Lord. My spirit rejoices in God, my Savior. Mary felt the supreme
happiness and satisfaction in life. There
is only one way to become truly fulfilled in this life.
How? To be who God has
chosen you to be. You were
created with a divine purpose in mind. When
you find that purpose and seek to fulfill God’s desire for your life you
have found what Mary meant.
God has been mindful of
His servant. Mary
felt honored to have been chosen by God to bring His Son to the world.
He has been mindful of us. He
wants us to bring His son to the world. Will
we this Christmas?
The mighty One has done
great things. The
great things Mary spoke of is the wonder of the virgin who bore a Son.
He has done even greater things today by coming into all of His
servants. We are born again as He
enters into our lives.
His mercy extends to those
who fear Him from generation to generation.
The Lord is full of mercy, love,
and grace to all. Have you
recognized His mercy and accepted His amazing grace?
He has scattered the proud
and He has brought down rulers. He
scatters the proud and brings down the rulers who ignore Him and His love for
them. He will make the wrong
right.
He has filled the hungry
with good things. He
will fill you with what you need to satisfy your soul.
Will you seek Him today? He
is seeking you.
He has helped his
servants. He has helped us
and He will help you. Will you
allow Him to help you? He will be
born in you as you become born again.