The Magnificat
Mary responded, Oh, how my soul praises the Lord. How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior! For he took notice of his lowly servant girl, and from now on 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 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. Luke 1:46-55
Movement 1: Mary’s Song
Read: Mary responded, Oh, how my soul praises the Lord. How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior! For he took notice of his lowly servant girl, and from now on all generations will call me blessed. Luke 1:46-48
Reflect: Mary’s Magnificat is named after the first line in the Latin: Magnificat anima mea Dominum or “My Soul magnifies the Lord”. In this beautiful song, Mary, the soon-to-be mother of Jesus, is rejoicing in God’s plan to save His people. She is so full of thankfulness and joy that it spills out into song.
She specifically notes how God took notice of her, a seeming “nobody”. This harkens back to Psalm 8 when David asks, “When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?”
Prayer and Worship: Take time to thank God for taking note of you. Thank Him for creating you and giving you your gifts, passions, and story. Listen to this song, worshipping God for who He is and the great things He has done.
Movement 2: The Great Things He Has Done
Read: 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 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. Luke 1:49-55
Reflect: As Mary sings her song of praise, she looks at the present and she looks back. She first recognizes what God has done for her. Then she reflects on what God has done for His people from generation to generation. She is likely referring to the stories of old from the Torah which had been passed down from generation to generation: when God had shown His power, scattered their enemies, lowered the “mighty” and exalted the humble, and provided for His people. His mercy is great.
Pray: Reflect on how God is providing for you right now. Look at your life and thank Him for His provision. Then reflect on how God has provided for you in the past. Ask Him to bring to mind specific instances of mercy and provision in your life and thank Him for His provision.
Movement 3: Your Magnificat
Praise through writing: Meditate on the reflections from Movement 2 and write your own Magnificat. It can be short or long. Many words or few. Straightforward or lengthy. Just let your heart and pen run wild. Don’t compare yours to Mary’s or anyone else’s. This is your song of praise to God.