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39 At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, 40 where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! 43 But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”46 And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48 for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, 49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me— holy is his name. 50 His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. 51 He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. 52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. 53 He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. 54 He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful 55 to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he promised our ancestors.” (Luke 1:39-55 NIV)
The ad ran only once in the Judean Times. WANTED: Mother of God. There was nothing else. People noticed and talked about it. The phones in the offices of the Times rang nonstop, and no one ever got through. Some even tried to get inside the editorial offices to speak to those who dared to run such an ad. What was funny was that no one wanted to apply. No one felt worthy; the thinking was that such a person might have to have perfection in their character and living. And there was that issue of getting pregnant and the rumor was that the person selected needed to be a virgin. And that was just the first ad. The second ad was just as cryptic. FOUND: Mother of God.
Of course, no such ads appeared in any newspaper of the area or time, for there were none. And the selection of such an imporant person to fill that role was solely a decison of Almighty God. And the qualifications for such a person were humility, integrity, honesty, love of God, love of others, and an unending awe and wonder for all things God. We also find that the woman chosen had to have the ability to convey an awesome description of all things God. We all know that it was Mary whom God selected as the mother of Jesus and in this passage we find one of the most profound expressions of joy and praise in the New Testament: Mary's song, known as the Magnificat. This beautiful hymn of thanksgiving reveals the heart of a young woman who has been chosen for an extraordinary role—yet she sees it as an act of God’s mercy toward the humble and lowly.
When Mary visits her relative Elizabeth, the Holy Spirit stirs within her, and her heart overflows with a powerful declaration of God’s faithfulness. She recognizes that the God who has looked upon her humble state has also done mighty things for the world. The focus of her praise is not on her own greatness, but on God's greatness and His mercy—how He lifts the lowly, fills the hungry, and scatters the proud.
Mary’s words echo the central theme of Advent: God is coming to His people in a way that is unexpected, humble, and transformative. The Savior is born not in a palace, but in a stable, not to the powerful, but to a young woman from a forgotten town. This is God’s surprising way of working—through the lowly and the humble.
Advent is a season of preparation, of waiting, but it is also a time to reflect on the God who has already come in Christ and who will come again in glory. It is a time to recognize that, like Mary, we too are called to rejoice in God’s goodness, to trust in His promises, and to live with hope for the transformation He is bringing to our world.
PRAYER: Loving God, As we wait for Your coming, we join with Mary in proclaiming Your greatness. Thank You for looking upon us with mercy and grace, and for lifting up the humble. We pray that Your love and joy would fill our hearts this Advent season. Help us to live with hope, humility, and a willingness to serve others as You have served us. May we reflect Your light in a world that longs for peace and redemption. Come, Lord Jesus, and make our hearts Your home, for we pray in Christ Jesus' strong name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! YOUR CALL TO ACTION: Let us also reflect on the ways in which God is working in our lives. In this season of Advent, how can we make room for the lowly and the humble in our hearts and actions? Who are the “hungry” around us who need to be filled with good things? What ways can we, like Mary, magnify the Lord in our daily lives and rejoice in His mercy? Take a moment to pray and consider how you can embody the joy and humility of the Magnificat today. Is there someone you can serve? A way you can reflect Christ’s mercy and grace? Advent is a time not only to await Christ’s coming but to live out the values of His kingdom, even now.
I love you and I thank God for you!
Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.
