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46 And Mary said, I'm bursting with God-news; 47 I'm dancing the song of my Savior God. 48 God took one good look at me, and look what happened - I'm the most fortunate woman on earth! What God has done for me will never be forgotten, 49 the God whose very name is holy, set apart from all others. 50 His mercy flows in wave after wave on those who are in awe before him. 51 He bared his arm and showed his strength, scattered the bluffing braggarts. 52 He knocked tyrants off their high horses, pulled victims out of the mud. 53 The starving poor sat down to a banquet; the callous rich were left out in the cold. 54 He embraced his chosen child, Israel; he remembered and piled on the mercies, piled them high. 55 It's exactly what he promised, beginning with Abraham and right up to now. (Luke 1:46b-55 The Message Bible)
46 And Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord, 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48 for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; 49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. 50 His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. 51 He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. 52 He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; 53 he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. 54 He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, 55 according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever." (Luke 1:46b-55 New Revised Standard Version Bible)
Happy Thursday, ConCafe Family! Our Advent journey is drawing to the glorious conclusion of our dear Savior's birth, and we pray that be the start of a new journey of faith and fruitfulness, Friend. Are you ready? I pray you are! There are so many who need to know about God's love, which is where Advent is leading us. Prayers for a young couple where the wife may have to have her pregnancy terminated because the doctors fear the mother's life is in danger. God knows who the couple is. Prayers for their comfort and strength, both mother and father, and their parents and family members.
We have been blessed during this Advent year with what can be called true Christmas songs, and this is the latest of the three. This is also called The Magnificat or the Song of Mary. I've included, last yesterday, two versions of the same passage; the newer, more modern one from The Message, and one of the classics, New Revised Standard Version. Notice the use of "magnifies the Lord," and compare it to "bursting with God-news." Which do you understand better? They do mean the same thing, but one can relate to Mary saying she's bursting with God-news. She is the most blessed woman on earth and what she did for God will never be forgotten. It was our privilege to visit the last home of Mary in Turkey. It is where Mary lived her last years on earth. It was an emoitonal experience to be in the home of the woman who gave birth to Jesus. Please remember she belongs to the entire Church for what she did and who she was. Her faith and walk with God rewarded her with the awesome role and responsbility of being the mother of our Savior. Yet, God equipped her with the strength and the vision of what would be the impact of this birth on the earth; "His mercy flows in wave after wave on those who are in awe before Him; He bared His arm and showed His strength, scattered the bluffing braggarts." Tyrants would be knocked off their high horses and victims would be pulled out of the mud. The poor would be invited to sit at a banquet, while the "callous rich" would be left out in the cold;; and God's chosen child, Israel, would be embraced by God. And the best news, God's mercies will be piled high for all people; the same ones He promised since His days with Abraham and all through the centuries up to right now. The love at Christmas is for all people. It's free, but it is not cheap. It cost Jesus His life, but He willingly gave it for you and me. LIfe is difficult, but it is so much better lived with the knowledge that Christ is traveling with us.
The reality was a young girl, no more than 14 or 15 years of age, as some scholars believe, a girl not from any financial means, but pure and devout, and committed to God, received this invitation and she accepted, in faith, to venture forth into a future fraught with danger, and largely unknown. To be told she would be pregnant before her actual marriage meant she could lose her life according to the religious law. Add to that her having to explain to the important people in her life that she is pregnant, and pregnant with the Son of God. And we can continue to paint a negative picture of this young lady, but to hear her song, we are hearing faith in action; that is true faith, friends; to look beyond the pain and struggle of the moment with the assurance of that which can come in a way that the writer of Hebrews wrote, "faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." What song could you sing in your present situation?
PRAYER: Loving Father, as we journey with You, hold us closer, never let us go. Embrace us wiht strength and fill our spirits with joy, and our hearts with love. Then allow us to move forward and share in the same way with those in need; in Christ Jesus' strong name we pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Share joy with those feeling blue.
Receive my blessing os joy and peace,
Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.
