Eucharistic Gospel Reading for Sunday of the 4th Week of Advent: Year C
Micah 5:2 to 5; Hebrews 10:5 to 10; Luke 1:39 to 55
“My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant.” (Luke 1:46 to 48).
It is from this reading of Luke that we get the words for praying the Rosary. The words come from Elizabeth, the relative of Mary who said of Mary, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.” It is with these words the Rosary is prayed.
I like Mary’s response, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant.” This Mary who answered to the angel Gabriel, “let it be with me as you have said,” has opened herself to God for the benefit of all people for all time.
Mary listens to her soul as it is in communication with God. She understands that her soul is in conversation with God, about her. So too, our souls are in conversation with God about us. If we empty ourselves of too much human business, God will replace it with divine purpose. God will look upon the lowliness of us who have been forsaken by society, or filled with the preoccupation of money, power and greed. God always seeks those who proclaim, “Let it be with me as you have said,”
Perhaps with these words of Mary we could find another tactile way of prayer for those of us who are not so comfortable with the Rosary or Anglican beads. Maybe in this world of the creative emoji we could go a step further with that, or have a small, pocket sized, human shaped figure, representing ourselves, with which we could hold up as ourselves, and say to God, “let it be with me as you have said.” The little figure could also represent our souls. Such a practice could change how we go forward in the world for the better. If not this then perhaps a lighted candle and praying the words themselves; “let it be with me as you have said.” For God is still looking for people to use for God’s purposes. Thank You Lord Jesus.
Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine and Russia, Israel and Palestine, and our schools. And, as we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and serve, and to teach others to love and serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John
A Collect for Sundays (BCP p. 98)
O God, you make us glad with the weekly remembrance of the glorious resurrection of your Son our Lord: Give us this day such blessing through our worship of you, that the week to come may be spent in your favor; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
onewhoponders 