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Advent Devotional for Wednesday, December 23
• Luke 1:46-55
These beautiful verses — the Magnificat — comprise one of my most cherished passages from the Gospel of Luke. Many generations of our families have come to know the Magnificat through participation in Christian worship and music over the years. When I read this canticle or hear the words set to music, I can palpably feel Mary’s gladness as if she were the neighbor in the pew beside me at church, telling me of the joy that awaits her through the faithfulness of God. This joy is twofold; it is the joy of new life within her at the same time that it is the joy of a promise fulfilled.
Insofar as Mary’s words reflect on her present circumstances, quality time with Elizabeth and the promise of the child in her womb, they are also prophetic. As one Luke commentator observes of the Magnificat, “so sure is the singer that God will do what is promised that it is proclaimed as accomplished fact.” Indeed, “to speak of what God has done is to announce what God will do.” Mary’s celebration of God’s mercy, provision, and justice towards the oppressed is our celebration. The salvation in store for Mary is our salvation, and we discover, as she did, that it comes in the form of a baby who is nurtured with human love. Our salvation lies in a humble child who will advocate for every one of God’s people.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer put it best when he wrote, “The infinite mercy of the almighty God comes to us, descends to us in the form of a child, His Son. That this child is born for us, this son is given to us, that this human child and Son of God belongs to me, that I know him, have him, love him, that I am his and he is mine—on this alone my life now depends. A child has our life in his hands.” We rejoice with Mary that this Son given to us has filled us with good things that we in turn will give to others.
Light of the world, whose coming filled Mary’s spirit with gladness, shine on in our hearts during this joyful Christmas season. May we, like mother Mary, proclaim the greatness of God as we share your light with others! Amen.
Meg Vail
MDiv Student from Austin, Texas
For the glory of God and to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ, Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary is a seminary in the Presbyterian-Reformed tradition whose mission is to educate and equip individuals for the ordained Christian ministry and other forms of Christian service and leadership; to employ its resources in the service of the church; to promote and engage in critical theological thought and research; and to be a winsome and exemplary community of God's people.
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