On the Fourth Sunday of Advent we read of Elizabeth’s greeting as Mary arrives (Luke 1:39-45). Some lectionaries extend this to include the Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55), which starts with Mary’s amazingly simple statement “My soul magnifies the Lord”. Luke has Mary making this statement with amazing (at least to me) confidence and purpose. I read it as a statement made by our Blessed Virgin Mary in the confidence she had from God. OR I can own this as a call to make this MY OWN statement of confidence in our Lord. It is a more difficult statement to make when I try to make it “mine”. Often, I am not confident in God. It can feel as I am not worthy of God’s care, let alone confident that my soul is magnifying anything worthy of sharing.
Oh Lord, give me the confidence to know my sole magnifies you, just as Mary said in her prayer. Help me act today so my living reflects Your call in my life, and give me the humility to ask Your forgiveness when I fail today, and every day. I ask this in your Son, Jesus’ name. Amen.
Picture Information: Mary,
Mother of God statue in Stella Maris Chapel, St. Benedict/St. John’s University,
St. John MN. Sculpted by Alexander Tylevich. Stella
Maris Chapel | SJU Archives
1 comment:
How true, Seton. How Mary had such confidence in God and I so little. Thanks for sharing this.
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