Loving God, bless and protect this dear reader today in all that they may face; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
Our text for today comes from Luke 1: My soul doth magnify the Lord, 47 And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. 48 For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold , from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed . 49 For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name. 50 And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation. 51 He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. 52 He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. 53 He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away . 54 He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy; 55 As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever. (KJV)
This is one of the recommended texts for the Psalter or Psalm reading. In Luke? you might ask. Yes, this is Mary, the mother of Jesus reflecting on her special position as the one chosen to carry the Christ child. She begins where it matters most in her spirit; she says that because of God's presence in her life she is able to give glory to God. She is also very happy because of God and God's power in her life. God came to her and chose her from among all the women of the earth at that time. For that selection, Mary knows that people will call her blessed. This visitation is special and great and serves to make the name of God even more holy. The rest of this psalm is a song of God's greatness in history, in the present, and in the time to come.
Today's Upper Room reading mentioned Advent as a time of new beginnings. And it is. On that night in which Mary was visited and given the news of her role in God's plan, her life would never be the same because of this new beginning given to her. The specialness of God in her life far outweighed any consequences or thoughts of consequences that tomorrow might hold for her or for her baby. If God was with her, that's all she needed to face the rest of today and all the tomorrows that might come.
Advent should be like that for us as well. The awesomeness of God in the right now far exceeds the what-could-bes of tomorrow.
PRAYER: Loving God of power and might, grace and light; You have visited me in a special way and do everytime I pray and listen for You after I pray. Make me know and live a way that says to me and to others that with You present and active in my life, that in itself far exceeds what I fear may come. Amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
