Monday after Rorate coeli, The Fourth Sunday in Advent
Posted on December 19, 2022 by under
Scripture: St. Luke 1:39-56 (NKJV)
1:39 Now Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, to a city of Judah, 40 and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. 41 And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. 45 Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord.”
46 And Mary said:
“My soul magnifies the Lord,
47 and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.
48 For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.
49 For He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name.
50 And His mercy is on those who fear Him from generation to generation.
51 He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
52 He has put down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted the lowly.
53 He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He has sent away empty.
54 He has helped His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy,
55 as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed forever.”
56 And Mary remained with her about three months, and returned to her house.
Devotion
Most Lutherans are familiar with this passage of Scripture as Mary’s song, the Magnificat, which is often sung during the Matins service. It is also noteworthy that we see John the Baptist leaping in his mother Elizabeth’s womb, showing us that even pre-born infants can believe and have faith.
This passage is also significant in that we find the mother of our Lord being called blessed among women. Mary is rightly called the Theotokos, or Mother of God, because she was the Mother of the God-Man, Jesus Christ. Yet Mary did not focus on herself, but magnified the Lord and rejoiced in her Savior.
Mary gives us an example to follow of how we ought to submit to the Lord and focus on the Savior who is Mary’s Son. Mary, like John the Baptist in the womb, has joy in what her Son will bring in the forgiveness of sin and life everlasting.
Prayer: Stir up, Lord, we beseech Thee, Thy power, and come, and with great might succor us, that by the help of Thy grace whatsoever is hindered by our sins may be speedily accomplished, through Thy mercy and satisfaction; who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
