Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Advent
Reflection based on Luke 1: 46-56
Mary does not render God great; he is great. She does, however, allow him to be great in her, as is evident in her Magnificat. This important song of praise is not simply a "peek hole" into Mary's interior life, however; nor is it a mere relic of faith. It is also a model, guide and instruction for Christian prayer.
Like Jesus who teaches us to address God confidently as "Father" (Mt 6:9), to obey him with trust (v.10), to entreat him for "our daily bread" (v.11), to beg him forgiveness and the power to forgive (v.12), and to seek his protection from temptation and evil (v.13), Mary teaches us to rejoice in God's goodness, to receive his blessings gratefully (Lk 1: 48-49). to proclaim his "greatness" (v.46), holiness (v.49), and saving strength (v.51), to testify to his regard for the lowly (v.48, v.52) and the hungry (v.53), to acknowledge his mercy (v.50, v.54) and fidelity (vv. 54-55).
It is not simple coincidence, therefore nor a matter of small importance that Mary's prayer has been adopted into the evening prayer of the Christian liturgy. The Church thereby recognizes in Mary's prayer of praise her own prayer of praise, and each one of us is invited to make it his own.
Mary's School of Praise
Mary does not render God great; he is great. She does, however, allow him to be great in her, as is evident in her Magnificat. This important song of praise is not simply a "peek hole" into Mary's interior life, however; nor is it a mere relic of faith. It is also a model, guide and instruction for Christian prayer.
Like Jesus who teaches us to address God confidently as "Father" (Mt 6:9), to obey him with trust (v.10), to entreat him for "our daily bread" (v.11), to beg him forgiveness and the power to forgive (v.12), and to seek his protection from temptation and evil (v.13), Mary teaches us to rejoice in God's goodness, to receive his blessings gratefully (Lk 1: 48-49). to proclaim his "greatness" (v.46), holiness (v.49), and saving strength (v.51), to testify to his regard for the lowly (v.48, v.52) and the hungry (v.53), to acknowledge his mercy (v.50, v.54) and fidelity (vv. 54-55).
It is not simple coincidence, therefore nor a matter of small importance that Mary's prayer has been adopted into the evening prayer of the Christian liturgy. The Church thereby recognizes in Mary's prayer of praise her own prayer of praise, and each one of us is invited to make it his own.
Heavenly Father, your Son Jesus taught us to address you as such, with the confidence of children who know themselves to be loved. Through Mary's instruction, grant that we might obtain fitting words of thanks and praise and hearts ever open top receive your blessings.
posted by See Tho Zhang Jacob at
2:55 PM
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