She explains how God always works. “low/humble estate” – bride of a carpenter & the mother of the Messiah. His sons were scoundrels. That He would choose her as a vessel of His grace overwhelms her soul. She explains how God always works. Magnificat, also called Canticle of Mary or Ode of the Theotokos, in Christianity, the hymn of praise by Mary, the mother of Jesus, found in Luke 1:46–55. The Magnificat is an expression both of how God is, and of how he will be. She wraps up by pointing us to God’s covenant, showing His faithfulness through all generations, keeping His promise to Abraham to redeem Israel. As He spoke to our fathers, They look around and say, “Look what I have built by my might power…” (Dan. Sarah was old, this is true, but at least she had access to the normal biological means to have children. Elizabeth says of Mary, “Blessed is she who believed” (Luke 1:45). Elaborate musical settings have been created for the Magnificat. She is an example of humility. He was the younger brother who was blessed purely because of God’s gracious choice. They fought against one another. “His mercy is on those who fear Him, from generation to generation” (Luke 1:50). Indeed, “He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant.” Mary is rejoicing in God’s salvation, and she is clear that she is the passive recipient of His grace. (Luke 1:42-45). She teaches us that God uses the small and weak to bring about His strength and glory. He continues to do this today, and this is becomes the main theme of Mary’s song. This is why God chooses the poor and lowly, by the way. Though some scholars have contended that this canticle was a song of Elizabeth, most early Greek and Latin manuscripts regard it as the “Song of Mary.”. He does not choose us because we are rich and mighty. He kept His promise. For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; So she believed and magnified Him. He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He was blessing the poor when He gave her Jesus. Now we should do the same, looking now to the fulfillment. Solomon saw great heights but ultimately ran after false gods, and therefore his children wandered. How does He do this? He was overturning the wisdom of the world when He sent the Son of God to be born of a virgin. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). It is named after the first word of its first line in Latin (“Magnificat anima mea Dominum,” or “My soul magnifies the Lord”). Something similar was true of Israel. 4:30). And the rich He has sent away empty. After Elizabeth blesses her, she says, “My soul magnifies the Lord.” This expression means that Mary’s soul, her innermost being, exalts the Lord. Mary immediately adds to this that, “my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.” She glorifies God, and then she rejoices in Him. We know that Christ has come to lift us up from our low state, to forgive us our sins and deliver us from evil, and finally to glorify God’s name by keeping His covenant. Black Friday Sale! She knew the Scriptures. And so God pulls them down from their thrones. She isn’t barren. As we will see, the Magnificat is Mary’s response of joy and worship to the announcement of God’s salvation. 12:9). In fact, this is the reason that “all generations” will call Mary “blessed.” Not because she is necessarily so great, but because “He who is mighty had done great things” for her. In this song, Mary shows us how to receive God’s grace. After all, she is a central figure in the birth stories of Jesus. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. It is also known as the Canticle of Mary in the Liturgy of the Hours, a special collection of scripture readings, psalms, and hymns that constitute what is known as the prayer of the church. It has been chanted in all eight modes of the plainsong and has been the subject of numerous other settings. She makes His name great. It has been chanted in all eight modes of the plainsong and has been the subject of numerous other settings. When Mary enters the home, also pregnant, with Jesus in her womb, John recognizes the presence of Christ. Elizabeth has John the Baptist in her womb. But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? Yet she didn’t believe it. Mary teaches us how to respond to good news, especially the good news of our salvation. Probably not too many, I would guess. He has always favored the poor, chosen the younger, and magnified His own strength through human weakness. And she believes. In Scripture, the hymn is found after the jubilant meeting of Mary, pregnant with Jesus, and her relative Elizabeth, pregnant with St. John the Baptist. Its name comes from the incipit of the Latin version of the text. That He would choose her as a vessel of His grace overwhelms her soul. It is named after the first word of its first line in Latin (“Magnificat anima mea Dominum,” or “My soul magnifies the Lord”). 20:6). Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... From Beethoven’s "Eroica" to Richard Wagner’s. No, Abraham must wait on God. Mary rejoiced and accepted Gabriel’s message with faith. We can’t begin to know, but he senses the presence of God. Let us then believe, and let us magnify the Lord. For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. And this is how God has always worked. He kept His covenant and choose to use this damaged and erring people to bring about the salvation of the world. He was showing His power and glory. (vs. 54-55). This is one of the main reasons for His grace. to Abraham and to his descendants forever. For He who is mighty has done great things for me. Imagine something like it happening today. 1. according to the promise he made to our ancestors. To Abraham and to his seed forever. It wasn’t initially very good. It reminds me of the end of 2nd Commandment. Yet through all of this, God was faithful. he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. She then tells Mary: Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed. He has saved Her, and He has chosen to give her the great privilege of bearing the messiah. Luke devotes a good deal of space to her in the beginning of his gospel. It’s too bad. He leaps in the womb, which alerts Elizabeth that something special is going on. And holy is His name. She shows us that He does not save us because we are so great. In remembrance of His mercy, In this song, Mary shows us how to receive God’s grace. 2. Elaborate musical settings have been created for the Magnificat. The Magnificat is a canticle, also known as the Song of Mary, the Canticle of Mary and, in the Byzantine tradition, the Ode of the Theotokos. Enter your email address to subscribe to updates and receive notifications of new blog posts by email. He uses the powerless in order to magnify His own power. And though he lived a life of affliction and suffering, He was promised to become a great nation. Somehow, this unborn child—this fetus!—knows when God is in the room. He chooses the weak and helpless, and He gives them a gift that transforms them. As we will see, the Magnificat is Mary’s response of joy and worship to the announcement of God’s salvation. Rather than choosing the mighty and powerful, God picks the poor and lowly to bring about His plans. And His mercy is on those who fear Him They have no need of God, and thus they have no fear of Him. He is keeping His covenant promise, and He is doing it in a surprising way. We should never let the abuse of something cause us to reject its legitimate use, and we Protestants shouldn’t run away from Mary. Our text today is one such space, her famous “song,” the Magnificat, which has held a special place in Christian history. “from now on” key phrase in Luke’s writings. For He who is mighty has done great things for me, If we understand Mary’s role in the Bible, she will always take us to Jesus. Again, we learn that God resists the proud but favors the humble (James 4:6). He has filled the hungry with good things, https://christchurchlakeland.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/12-17-17.mp3, https://christchurchlakeland.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/2-18-18.mp3. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones. The proud boast in themselves. Consider Abraham. He reverses the wisdom of this world and makes His strength perfect in weakness (2 Cor. For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed. Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord. He gives them Christ. Israel had to trust God’s promises. Unlike Sarah, who laughed at God’s unbelievable promise, Mary rejoiced.

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