Mary and Advent

I'm sitting down to write this week's Growth Group Leaders Guide on Luke 1, but want to reflect before I write the guide. Mary's "yes" to the Lord includes confusion and questions ("How can this be?"), a statement of commitment and identity ("I am the Lord's servant"), and a response that signals trust and submission ("May all you have said about me come true"). In the midst of her confusion, she holds onto what she knows to be true about the Lord and about her place in His Kingdom. Because she knows that she is a servant of the Lord, she can submit to His salvation plan. After some reflection, she unloads a beautiful song of worship on her relative Elizabeth. I want to end with the song, after which Mary has the next 8 and a half months to wait for the birth. She will live in a place of waiting for her pregnancy and then throughout the life of her son - we are in the same place for the Advent season. We know the promise, we know that we have been identified as children of God, but we live in a place of waiting - for the Son of God to be born again this year, for Christmas morning and the presents, for peace in our lives and families, for the Kingdom of God to come in glory, for the economy to pick up a little, for chances to see old friends and family. Mary waits for the Son of God to be born from her, and we get to wait with her for this season.

Oh, how my soul magnifies the Lord

How my spirit rejoices in God my savior!

For he took notice of his lowly servant girl,

and from now all generations will call me blessed.

For the Mighty One is holy,

and he has done great things for me.

He shows mercy from generation to generation

to all who fear him.

His mighty arm has done tremendous things!

He has scattered the proud and haughty ones.

He has brought down princes from their thrones

and exalted the humble.

He has filled the the hungry with good things

and sent the rich away with empty hands.

He has helped his servant Israel

and remembered to be merciful.

For he made this promise to our ancestors

to Abraham and his children forever.