And Mary said,
“My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has looked on the humble estate of
his servant.
For behold, from now on all generations
will call me blessed;
for he who is mighty has done great things
for me,
and holy is his name.
And his mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts
of their hearts;
he has brought down the mighty from their
thrones and exalted those of humble estate;
he has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
as he spoke to our fathers,
to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”
~ Luke 1:46-55
The Magnificat is one of the canticles in the Evening Prayer service in the 1928 Book of Common Prayer. I love when we chant it in Evensong. Mary spoke these words after the angel told her she would give birth to the Savior. She recognized that the prophecies of the Messiah were being answered through the child she would deliver, and she praised God for fulfilling His promises. She thanked God for her role in His salvation of the world, and she praised Him for His might, mercy, strength, and salvation. She praised Him for His mercy toward the humble and meek and for His judging people, not by wealth or power or pride, but by their fear of the Lord.
Lord God, I want to be among the humble and meek, among those who fear You, among those to whom You show mercy. Mold me into the person You want me to be. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
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All author proceeds from the devotionals will be donated to Love for the Least. The mission of L4L is to share the compassion of Christ with an unreached world. Currently they are providing food, mattresses, milk and diapers for babies, and other needs for refugees from ISIS in northern Iraq.
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