Mary's Song of Hope

And Mary said,

“My soul magnifies the Lord,

and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

for he has looked with favor 

on the lowly state of his servant..."

(from Luke 1:39-45)

When I sing songs of praise to God while in the shower, I hope God isn't listening., but looking with favor on his lowly servant.

God knows, we need some songs of hope.

Mary lived in a more honorable time that was much different from the stressed-out society we experience today.

Today we experience a Christmas market mentality, continuous traumatic news, sex-abuse scandals, divisiveness, and a sense of chaos.

So, yes, God knows we need some songs of hope.

One song of hope is God's promises affirmed in others which is happening when Mary makes the journey to Elizabeth.

A second song of hope is God’s constant mercy.

As Mary’s song moves from personal, she sings of what God has done in the lives of people around her from “generation to generation” and “forever”.

Whatever mercy God is doing now, God is capable of doing forever.

Mary’s song of constant mercy is one we need in our world marked by anxiety-producing change.

A third aspect of Mary’s song of praise is the radiating of vitality and hope through praising of God.

It radiated hope with Elizabeth, Zechariah, shepherds, and Simeon then from generation to generation.

As Christians our calling and mission is to continue singing Mary's song of hope with our "souls magnifying the Lord and our spirits rejoicing".