December 14, 2024 - Meaning Behind The Song of Mary

Meaning Behind The Song of Mary

Saturday, December 14, 2024

by: Cherylene Hargis

Scripture: Luke 1:46-55

Key Verse:

He has filled the hungry with good things

    but has sent the rich away empty.

Luke 1:53

Isn’t it funny how sometimes we can hear a song that immediately takes us back to a certain time and place in our lives. There are some songs we immediately identify with special occasions: “Happy Birthday” at a birthday party, “The National Anthem” at a ballgame, and “Silent Night” during Christmas Eve candlelight service. Music can express deep feelings and emotions that words sometimes can’t. We all know there are passages in scripture that challenge, encourage, teach, praise, and inspire, but there are also songs and hymns in scripture that do all those things too.

Painting by Carl Bloch

Mary’s Song (or the Magnificat), is a hymn that is one of those special songs for me. In the Gospel of Luke 1:46-55 the Virgin Mary visits her cousin Elizabeth, who is pregnant with John the Baptist. When the baby moves in Elizabeth’s womb, Elizabeth praises Mary for her deep faith in God. Mary responds with the hymn of praise known as the Magnificat.

 

The Magnificat, which is one of the oldest of Christian hymns, is named after the first line in the Latin (Magnificat anima mea Dominum or “My Soul magnifies the Lord”). In this song Mary rejoices that she has been chosen to give birth to the promised Messiah (Luke 1:46-48). Mary praises God for God’s power, holiness, and mercy (Luke 1:49-50). Mary also proclaims what God will do through the Messiah (Luke 1:51-53) and thanks God for keeping God’s promise to Abraham (Luke 1:54-55). Mary understands that God has looked upon her with favor and that she is blessed among women. She expresses her joy and gratitude for the Lord's goodness and mercy, and acknowledges that God's strength is made perfect in weakness. She also speaks of God's plan to exalt the humble and bring down the arrogant, prideful and those who abuse power, and that He has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away empty.

The Magnificat also reflects on how God is fulfilling his promises to the Israelites as Mary is carrying Jesus, and how the coming of Jesus will bring salvation to all people, regardless of their status or background. Through this song, Mary declares her faith in God's plan and in the coming of the Messiah, that she recognizes as the savior.

One of the most striking aspects of the Magnificat is its powerful call for the uplifting of the poor and oppressed. Mary's words in the Magnificat reflect a deep understanding of God's justice and mercy, and a belief in the power of God to bring about change in the world.

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,

my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

for He has looked with favor on His humble servant.

From this day all generations will call me blessed,

the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name.

He has mercy on those who fear Him in every generation

He has shown the strength of his arm,

He has scattered the proud in their conceit.

He has cast down the mighty from their thrones

and has lifted up the humble.

He has filled the hungry with good things,

and the rich He has sent away empty.

He has come to the help of His servant Israel

for He has remembered his promise of mercy,

the promise He made to our fathers, to Abraham and his children forever.

In conclusion, The Magnificat, is a powerful and meaningful text, filled with deep spiritual and theological truths. It speaks to the heart of what it means to be a faithful servant of God, and calls on us to follow Mary's example of humility, faith, and trust in God's plan for salvation.

So, like Mary, let’s sing and rejoice in the Lord throughout this Christmas season!

Please enjoy one of my absolute favorites is Breath of Heaven by Amy Grant…