The following is excerpted from my book entitled, “What to Hope In When There Is No Hope: 2019 Advent Readings for Clergy and Laypersons”, copyright 2019 by V. Rev. David L. Rogers; “
“Instead of a Psalm of David, we witness again the Magnificat of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is itself a psalm of a new covenant, and to a new understanding of Abraham’s posterity. It is quoted here in its entirety].
ST. LUKE 1:46b-55:
“My soul magnifies the Lord, 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48 for he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden. For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed; 49 for he who is mighty has done great things for me,and holy is his name. 50 And his mercy is on 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 put down the mighty from their thrones,and exalted those of low degree; 53 he has filled the hungry with good things,and the rich he has sent empty away. 54 He has helped his servant Israel,in remembrance of his mercy, 55 as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his posterity for ever.”
WHO AND WHAT TO BEHOLD!
The One to behold is born of a woman of low social status…
Of low status, well for a little while…
Henceforth all generations are to call her “Blessed”!
God her Savior is the Father of the Son to be born of her.
The One to behold is the Son of his Father…
His Father is holy and mighty, yet merciful upon all the generations…
His mighty Father lays the so-called ‘mighty’ of this earth low… yet raises up the low and fills the needy…
And the promise to Abraham and to his posterity, the ancient prophecies of a Messiah for Israel are about to come to pass…
In the Son to be born of the Virgin Mary, these do come to pass, and will come to pass evermore…
And as we say of a faithful son, “The apple did not fall far from the tree”… “The One who was, and Who is, and Who is to come”, arrives in human form, to reveal in the flesh the Word and the will of His Father… and the Apple fully reveals the Tree…
Ponder these things… of the One Who was, and Who is, and Who is to come…
Now, and during the Twelve Days of Christmas to follow, Behold!”
Father David+