Advent Devo 11/29

“Mary responded, “Oh, how my soul praises the Lord. How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior! For he took notice of his lowly servant girl, and from now on all generations will call me blessed. For the Mighty One is holy, and he has done great things for me. He shows mercy from generation to generation to all who fear him. His mighty arm has done tremendous things! He has scattered the proud and haughty ones. He has brought down princes from their thrones and exalted the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away with empty hands. He has helped his servant Israel and remembered to be merciful. For he made this promise to our ancestors, to Abraham and his children forever.””

-Luke 1:46-55 NLT

Mary responded to the announcement given by the angel Gabriel with the above song. It is commonly referred to as her Magnificat. Gods message through Gabriel was that God was going to make much of her, that He has picked her. She was chosen. She had been highly favored. God was magnifying her  in a way by choosing her to be the mother of the Christ, Jesus.

What is very telling and truly beautiful about Mary's spirit is that she in turn makes much of God. She worships Him.

             

Mary stands in the Biblical tradition of Jael and Judith, the other two women within Jewish literature to be addressed as "Blessed are you among women." Moreover, her song (the Magnificat), reflects the revolutionary words of Miriam's song (Exo 15), Deborah's (Judges 5), and Hannah's (1 Sam 2). Furthermore, Mary's commission is very similar to the call of Moses (Exo 3:2-6, 10-12) and Gideon (Judges 6:11-24), both who played a major part in God liberating His people.

Protestants have long missed out on looking to Mary as a true role model, both for men and women. Her spirit of submission to God's call upon her life, her willingness to be used by Him in a way that would surely >rob her of her reputation, her strength and dignity that she carried herself with, and everything that went into raising the Savior of the Universe is something to admire and venerate. 

Out of caution to go too far and worship her as some Christians fall into the trap of doing, we can easily go too far and diminish her. This Advent, I pray and hope that you will see Mary for who she was: a true, humble servant of our King. Let us strive to emulate that.