Luke 1:46b-55
1:46b “My soul magnifies the Lord,
1:47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
1:48 for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
1:49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name.
1:50 His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.
1:51 He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
1:52 He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly;
1:53 he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty.
1:54 He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy,
1:55 according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”
As we journey through the season of Lent, I have been reflecting on the role of women in my life, the Church, and the world. Especially this month that we celebrate Women’s History Month, Women of International Women’s day, and Women of Color Day. My reflection led me to Mary’s testimony and role in God’s redeeming plan for all people. Mary’s testimony is an invitation to, just like she did, write our own love song to Jesus. This message is an adaptation of a sermon I preached back in 2020.
I am always amazed at how Mary responds to the news from the angel Gabriel about how she was going to conceive in her womb, Emmanuel, God with us, the Son of the Highest, Jesus – the redeemer of the world. She is perplexed and confused, and she starts asking questions. But it did not take long for her to say: “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Eventually, she also received a confirmation from Elizabeth.”
41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit 42 and exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. 43 And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? 44 For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy. 45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be[e] a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.”
After this confirmation, Mary’s Song, “The Magnificat,” is spoken. Specifically, a Love Song for Jesus was told. What I find pretty interesting here is Elizabeth’s affirmation of Mary’s faith. Elizabeth commends Mary for believing. However, we cannot forget that what Mary believed was illogical. It was against social norms. It was even against religious norms.
How powerful to imagine Mary’s feelings as she knows it is worth the hassle, the inconvenience, and the negative rumors around her. It is worth believing in God’s promises.
What Mary is experiencing leads her to sing a song of love for Jesus. It is the most beautiful and powerful piece ever spoken because it captures how Mary’s soul was doing well. She believed in God’s promises and embraced her role in God’s salvific plan for humanity.
St. Romero, one of the voices that have influenced my life and ministry, said this about Mary:
“Mary is the beautiful figure of Advent [and can also be for Lent]… Mary is highlighted in the first coming of Christ, but her mission is not completed there. Rather, her mission continues throughout the long history of Christianity… Mary is the mother of all the fruitfulness that we, humble ministers of the Gospel, attempt to plant and make fruitful in the People of God…Through Mary, God became flesh, entered a people, and became the center of human history. She is the bond of interconnection between heaven and earth. Without Mary, the Gospel is stripped of flesh and blood and is distorted into an ideology, into a spiritualistic rationalism. Mary, then, gives redemption the meaning God desires.”
So, Mary not only has a significant role in God’s salvific plan for humanity, the establishment of the Church, and Christian Theology, because of her faith and obedience but also because of how she responded to God’s call. John Wesley said that Mary’s response was “under a prophetic impulse.” In other words, Mary is one of the prophets who prepared the way to Jesus.
As I keep amazed by Mary’s example, I also think about the many women who have had a significant role in my life:
- My wife Alma. Whose love and care are a tangible way in which I have experienced God’s unconditional love, grace and presence.
- My mother. Who taught me to never forget to be thankful even for the small things in life.
- My Grandmother Maria and Lily. Who encouraged me to read the Bible and practice a prayer life.
- My middle school teacher Elena. Who believed in me and gave me my first opportunity to be in a leadership role.
- The different supervisors I have had in my professional life happened to be women who have helped me overcome some of my insecurities.
- My youth pastor Bibis taught me to be courageous and not afraid to take risks in life and ministry.
These women have helped me write and speak my love song to Jesus. In fact, I believe that our lives are a love song for Jesus. St. Ireneaus said… “The Glory of God is humanity fully alive.” So, let’s continue writing our song so that we can glorify God this Lent and all of our lives. Also, let’s celebrate not only this month but every day, all women in our lives and in the world.
Prayer:
Graceful and transforming God, may your Holy Spirit inspire us to be as courageous as Mary was in responding to God’s call upon her life. Amen.
