Magnificats
Scripture Reading: The Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55)
And Mary (or Elizabeth)[a] said,
“My soul magnifies the Lord,
47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48 for he has looked with favor on the lowly state of his servant.
Surely from now on all generations will call me blessed,
49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me,
and holy is his name;
50 indeed, his mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.
51 He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
52 He has brought down the powerful from their thrones
and lifted up the lowly;
53 he has filled the hungry with good things
and sent the rich away empty.
54 He has come to the aid of his child Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
55 according to the promise he made to our ancestors,
to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”
Song: Cecie’s Lullaby by Stephanie Gretzinger
Reflect on the tender love of God expressed through this song.
Listen:
Poem: God Our Mother by Allison Woodward
To be a mother is to suffer,
To travail in the dark, stretched and torn,
Exposed in half-naked humiliation,
Subject to indignities for the sake of new life.To be a mother is to say,
"This is my body, broken for you,"
And in the next instant, in response to the created's primal hunger,
"Take and eat, for this is my body."To be a mother is to self-empty,
To neither slumber nor sleep,
So attuned you are to the cries in the night,
Offering the comfort of yourself and assurances of "I'm here."To be a mother is to weep
Over the fighting and exclusions and wounds
Your children inflict on one another;
To long for reconciliation and brotherly love
And - when all is said and done -
To gather all parties,
The offender and the offended,
Into the folds of your embrace and whisper,
"Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us."
Read the full text here.
Song: Christmas Lullaby by Jason Robert Brown
This tender song reminds us of God's incarnation in love and vulnerability.
Listen:
Poem: Illuminate by Brittany Deininger
May the Spirit who moved over the deep
Breathe new life into you.
May the Spirit who spoke light into the darkness
Speak to your heart.May the One who was, and is, and is to come,
Stir you awake.Rise up, sleeper, from the grave
And Christ will shine on you.So rise up.
To illuminate your heart.
To bring light to your mind.
To brighten the world you carry inside yourself.
Read the full poem here.
Song: Why Does God Have to Look So Human? by Waterdeep
This song beautifully explores the incarnation and God’s closeness to humanity. Full lyrics can be found on GeniusLyrics.
Listen: