Elizabeth called Mary blessed because she believed that the word of the Lord to her would be fulfilled. And Mary was truly blessed, the most blessed among all women ever to live. But see how Mary redirected this blessing spoken to her by Elizabeth unto God. We should see this, because it is how it ever is and will be with Marian devotion. She is blessed, and we are right to call her so and celebrate it. But when we focus on her she will help us raise our minds and hearts to God in praise.
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;
my spirit rejoices in God my savior.
for he has looked upon his lowly servant.
Even the most blessed of women was able to see herself as a lowly servant of the great God her savior. It was thus that she rejoiced, not in herself or what she was on her own, but in what God himself had done for her.
From this day all generations will call me blessed:
the Almighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his Name.
Mary spoke of the connection between calling her blessed and the great deeds of the almighty. In celebrating Mary we celebrate the power of God, his faithfulness to his promises, and the absolute holiness of his name. Mary's own holiness, which was a gift of grace from the Almighty, only served to magnify the holiness of the one who gave the gift.
He has mercy on those who fear him
in every generation.
Mary opened her song to all of those in every generation who would fear God as she did. His mercy was available to all of them, to the degree that they would follow her as an example and model. Her holy fear led to belief and ascent to the plan of God spoken by Gabriel. If we follow her example of belief we can share in the mercy that was poured out as a consequence of that belief, not for only a few, but for all peoples in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm,
and has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones
and has lifted up the lowly.
Christmas is the time when we celebrate the lifting of the lowly, the scattering of the proud, and the casting down of the mighty. For Jesus came as an infant, meek and lowly, virtually invisible to the mighty and the proud of this world. The thrones of earthly powers were not the chosen place for the revelation of the Messiah, and the Messiah would not be found by hearts such as they who sat upon them. It was rather those who could become lowly like Mary, small and humble like the child Jesus himself, who would discover this miraculous birth. It was shepherds keeping watch and Magi willing to empty their treasures in worship who were the ones to celebrate that first Christmas. Herod and other such mighty ones of the world were left frustrated, their efforts scattered. They feared from prophecy that they would be cast down and tried to fight it. But with the birth of the Savior God's judgement was already spoken against such worldly powers the realization of that judgement was only a matter of time.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
God gave Jesus to the human race as the bread of life, born in Bethlehem, the "city of bread". Most in the world were more interested in physical food and would have happily made Jesus their king if he had endlessly multiplied loaves to sate their carnal hunger. But God was more interested in gathering a people who would sate themselves on the hidden bread of the will of God that they could receive by receiving Jesus, especially as he would give himself in the Eucharist.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel
for he remembered his promise of mercy
It is true that God never forgot his promises, not to Hannah, and not to Israel. But he remembered them in a most unique and perfect way in the gift of Jesus to the world because it was he who was God's yes to all his past promises. This yes is remembered in each mass when the priest once again makes present the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus in remembrance of him.
I am the woman who stood near you here, praying to the LORD.
I prayed for this child, and the LORD granted my request.
Now I, in turn, give him to the LORD;
as long as he lives, he shall be dedicated to the LORD.
Let us learn from Hannah and Mary not to hoard or cling to gifts that we receive but rather to entrust them ultimately to the plan and providence of God. Thanksgiving for God fulfilling his promises is meant to open us to the grace to entrust all that we have and all that we are to a giver so good. Is there anything, then, to which we cling, holding it back even from God himself out of fear? He himself will assuredly make more of it than we ever can. Let us remember, give thanks, and offer in response our song of worship, just as Mary teaches and invites us to sing.
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