Mary’s Song

Mary’s Song

“For the Mighty One is holy,

and he has done great things for me.”

Luke 1:49 (NLT)

I’ve been thinking about this verse this Christmas season, and, to tell you the truth, it has brought me to my knees.

I think about Mary who spoke these words just as she learned that she was carrying God’s son inside of her. Who was she? A girl. A daughter. A dearly loved and chosen one. Was she afraid? Was she mystified by the news she had just received? I would imagine she was. And yet, how does she respond? In deep and utter humility.

I think about God and who He is. Mary recognized God’s perfection, His holiness, His righteousness. And in her beautiful song, she shows that she understands who she is before this holy and awesome God.

I think about me, rushing headlong into this Christmas season, thinking about my “to-do” list, shopping, and parties. I hold my worries closely at this time of year, pondering them in my heart. Yet Mary’s words remind me that I need to slow down, to submit my worries to this Mighty One, and to remember the great things that He has done for me.

What Mary understands (that I haven’t quite mastered yet) is that this “thing” that has happened to her is really about submission to our holy and awesome God. She concedes that this “situation,” rather than being an embarrassment or an inconvenience, is a gift from God, and, in response, she gives thanks, preparing her heart to submit to the will of the Father.

In that, there is blessing.

Mary’s song reminds me that this Christmas season is not about my agenda at all. It’s about finding God and looking upon His perfect righteousness. God, who has done the greatest thing of all by sending His Son to bring divine justice into this world. Through Jesus alone I can approach God’s throne, humbly, like Mary, and recognize his goodness to me.

What a miracle. What a gift.

(Might I encourage you to find some time this week to sit down and solemnly, quietly, worshipfully read Mary’s Song in the Bible? You can find it in Luke 1:46-56.)