No one likes to wait! Yet waiting is baked into the Christian life, often more than we would ever desire (or expect). In the Christian year, the Advent season between now and Christmas is a particular opportunity for what we all need, but rarely desire–spiritually reflective waiting.
As we try to enter into spiritually attuned waiting this year, I invite you to join some companions who each did some serious waiting–Mary, Zechariah and Simeon. The really surprising thing is this: each ends up singing about their waiting!
They each sing early Christian hymns which Luke adds to his Christmas story. Each of these songs is a clear commentary on God’s action: a fresh, poetic way of grasping what Advent is all about.
Mary sings a song to God as she looks forward to her son to be born. It’s a song of faith. It’s a song of praise. Traditionally, it’s called the Magnificat.
If you cock your ear and listen closely, it’s the same melody echoing down through Scripture. Like any great movie where an epic theme song keeps reappearing in the background at key moments, so this melody weaves its way through the Bible.
- Joseph whistled it through his trials in dungeons of despair.
- The prophets hummed it to themselves as they mulled over how Yahweh was working in Israel’s history.
- Every once and awhile someone like David felt the music in their bones so much that they belted it out with a backup band of harps and cymbals.
However many different voices sang it, the underlying melody is always the same:
It’s a melody of God’s grace. It’s praise to a God who does great things for those who can do nothing for themselves.
Mary sings two stanzas: same melody, different keys.
Stanza 1: Luke 1:46-50
And Mary said:
“My soul glorifies the Lord
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has been mindful
of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
holy is his name.
His mercy extends to those who fear him,
from generation to generation.”
This first stanza is about God’s grace to her–grace to which Mary responds with faith.
In fact, for Luke Mary is the first disciple of Jesus. More than that, she’s the model for all disciples. I think the Catholic church got that right. Mary hears God’s word, she believes it, she surrenders herself totally to it. Remember how she responds? “I am the Lord’s servant. May it be to me as you have said.” This is a disciple! One who is willing to risk giving up control of her life.
Mary helps us because we’re so confused today about what being a disciple of Jesus really means.
- As I was growing up in the 1950’s, it was assumed becoming a disciple meant doing good things for God. The tune was “whistle while you work.” Being active attending church meetings, doing good works, equaled being a disciple of Jesus.
- The “Me Generation” of the 80’s turned that on its head and said, become a disciple so God can do good things for you. To a generation used to being marketed to, the tune now became the TV jingle “things go better with Coke” only “things go better with Jesus.” (Coke and Jesus both became brands to sell.)
But what about Mary’s song? How does she sing about real discipleship? “My soul glorifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior…”
WHY? Not because God is pleased with her good works, or because she is pleased that God has enhanced her life. No, “for he has regarded the humble state of his servant…”
God picks up those who are humble, who are empty, who realize their inadequacy, who don’t have a leg to stand on. God is always taking lowly people and lifting them up. That’s Mary’s song.
The psalmist sings it this way: “God is opposed to the proud but gives grace to the humble.” That’s the melody echoing through scripture.
God takes empty people (who aren’t full of themselves) and unexpectedly fills them up with himself.
Stanza 2: Luke 1:51-53 (same melody, different key)
“He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
He has brought down rulers from their thrones
but has lifted up the humble.
He has filled the hungry with good things
but has sent the rich away empty.”
Now Mary’s Christmas carol sounds a little off-key. Just for fun, can you think of a traditional Advent or Christmas carol that…
- Looks forward to social upheaval?
- Sings about the rich sent away empty?
- Rejoices that judgment is coming to those who are inwardly proud?
Yet Mary sings that a great reversal is coming.
What God did in her life is just a foretaste of what God will do for all humanity. The rich and prideful, who always get their own way, who even buy justice with their money and influence, will take a great fall! At the same time, the humble (there’s that word again) will be exalted.
Mary’s song reminds us that Christmas sets a great social revolution in motion. This too is a melody throughout the Bible. Listen to just one example from another mother, Hannah mother of Samuel:
“He raises the poor from the dust
and lifts the needy from the ash heap;
he seats them with princes
and has them inherit a throne of honor.” (1 Samuel 2:8)
Even as Christians, we’re so individually minded that we really need Mary’s second stanza to remind us that Christmas is not just about us!
Mary sings about a new kingdom—a new social order—where God rules with justice. It’s a society where every person has equal access to health care, enough to eat and clean water to drink, and a decent place to live. In this new kingdom Black Lives Matter, there is equal justice and opportunity for all races and ethnic groups. In this new kingdom, “people will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character” (Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.)
Jesus says his Church is to be the actual demonstration of this kingdom on earth until he comes again.
Can We Sing Along?
In the early days of television, as a child I remember every Saturday night sitting with my parents watching “Sing along with Mitch.” A long line of guys, all in the same blue suits. Mitch conducting, with his little goatee. To sing the words of the songs, you followed the bouncing ball on the screen.
During this first week of Advent, I suggest that we all “Sing along with Mary.”
If you don’t know the words, just follow the bouncing ball for the next 7 days:
- “My soul glorifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has regarded the humble state of his servant.” Every day this week, ask: How has God met me in my humble state and lifted me up?
- “He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble.” Every day this week, ask: Where do I yearn for God’s justice and righteousness to prevail to lift up the humble?
so uplifting in such a difficult time Thank you! I look forward to hearing more and focusing on the positivity that Jesus brings.