The Spark of Life
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2024
And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on the lowly state of his servant. Surely from now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name; indeed, his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away empty. He has come to the aid of his child Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.
—Luke 1:46-55 (NRSVUE)
These poetic verses are known as the Magnificat, the song of Mary. She sings out with joy that within her womb is the tiny spark of life who will save the world. Somehow, Mary sees it clearly—a world of justice and mercy, where every wrong has been made right. She rejoices in a glorious future, but one that has, at the same time, already been secured.
This is a gentle revolution, not some grand show of power. God chooses the margins of society, where God will be born in dire circumstances, to an unwed mother in unsanitary conditions without a proper roof over her head. To an embarrassed new dad, forced to scoop up his family and flee the country from a powerful and vengeful king. This is the world that God chose to enter at Christmas. Our world. So God could be the difference we didn’t know it needed. Thanks be to God.
Practice
Advent Together
Gather your family together over dinner, invite over some friends, or FaceTime some of the kids in your life. Turn down the lights, gather around the Advent wreath and light three of the purple candles and the pink candle.
REFLECT
1. When was the last time you were surprised by something?
2. Many people were surprised that Jesus chose to enter the world as a baby—especially through these surprising circumstances. If Jesus were to be born today, where do you think he might appear?
RESPOND
When Mary was surprised by the angels’ news, she responded with a joyful song, despite all her fears about the future. What is something that you could trust God with in your own life (despite your fears)? How easy or difficult is that for you?
A Blessing for the Coming of Justice
Blessed are we, starting to see
the height and depth and breadth
of God’s love that includes all of us,
even the not-so-perfect.
Blessed are you, Mary, for saying yes to the big risk
of being God’s dwelling place.
Blessed are we, like Mary,
starting to sing our own songs of joy
at the thought that maybe this Advent
we too can start to trust it,
to risk it, to live it out,
the love that decides to love first,
before it is earned or deserved,
the love that your incarnation embodies
to the full.
Blessed are we, breathing in the truth
that we belong,
and so does everybody else.