Reflection for December 21st by Megan Crosby, Organist/Accompanist
As a church musician, I have sung many versions of Mary’s Magnificat. Two examples from our red hymnal include “My Soul Proclaims Your Greatness Lord” and “Canticle of the Turning.” Mary’s voice resonates with me, even though it’s over 2,000 years old. I hear vindication, triumph, and joy. God has “exalted the humble and scattered the proud,” This imagery is reminiscent of the prophet Isaiah’s “every valley shall be exalted and every mountain made low.”
And while I feel the strength and power running through her proclamation, I look around and still there is greed, pride, and injustice the world over. What can one person do in the face of this tyranny? Lucky for us, God doesn’t need human power. In fact, God is happy to use the powerless, the humble, the poor, the “lowly” things in life to accomplish our salvation. Mary was unwed, pregnant, and young, and in her culture she had little control over her own life. God gave her a task that was already expected of her: have children. So when you are doing your ordinary, daily tasks, just consider that maybe you are doing the work that God needs done without even knowing it. What are you good at? What are you already doing that gives you strength and can be used to help others?
Dear God, while we await with joy the coming of your Son, move us to welcome all—the hurt, the lost, the lonely, the poor, the suffering. Move us to action. Amen
As a church musician, I have sung many versions of Mary’s Magnificat. Two examples from our red hymnal include “My Soul Proclaims Your Greatness Lord” and “Canticle of the Turning.” Mary’s voice resonates with me, even though it’s over 2,000 years old. I hear vindication, triumph, and joy. God has “exalted the humble and scattered the proud,” This imagery is reminiscent of the prophet Isaiah’s “every valley shall be exalted and every mountain made low.”
And while I feel the strength and power running through her proclamation, I look around and still there is greed, pride, and injustice the world over. What can one person do in the face of this tyranny? Lucky for us, God doesn’t need human power. In fact, God is happy to use the powerless, the humble, the poor, the “lowly” things in life to accomplish our salvation. Mary was unwed, pregnant, and young, and in her culture she had little control over her own life. God gave her a task that was already expected of her: have children. So when you are doing your ordinary, daily tasks, just consider that maybe you are doing the work that God needs done without even knowing it. What are you good at? What are you already doing that gives you strength and can be used to help others?
Dear God, while we await with joy the coming of your Son, move us to welcome all—the hurt, the lost, the lonely, the poor, the suffering. Move us to action. Amen
RSS Feed
