Advent 3
Preaching
Aids To The Psalms
Exploring The Message
And Mary said,
"My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his
servant
Surely from now on all generations will call me blessed;
for the Mighty One has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
His mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
He has brought down the powerful from their thrones,
and lifted up the lowly;
he has filled the hungry with good things,
and sent the rich away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
according to the promise he made to our ancestors,
to Abraham and to his descendants forever."
Alternate Image
The Singer goes to visit a cousin and her aunt. What a pair.
Her cousin is barely a teenager. She is pregnant and unmarried, a
child herself, and too young to be a mother. Her aunt is too old
to be a mother. When she should be enduring menopause, instead
she is preparing to undergo childbirth. They are bizarre and the
Singer wishes to offer them his counsel and condolences.
Neither appears to want to listen to the advice of the Singer.
Instead of being depressed by their condition they both appear
absolutely giddy. They spontaneously break into little songs of
happiness that spill from overfull hearts. Songs laugh at those
who stand about with accusing fingers and condemning stares. They
seem to share a secret which is precious, a secret that promises
to turn the world upside down. They sing songs about their
children who will remake the world. Children who will make the
poor rich, children who will be pacifistic, social and religious
revolutionaries. The songs are so infectious the Singer begins to
sing along with them and their joy fills his heart as well.
Reflection
Not all psalms are in the book of Psalms. Psalms are found
throughout scripture. Psalms are found almost everywhere if we
have the eyes to see. That is what the children of Elizabeth and
Mary have given us, eyes to see a world turned truly upside down.
Revolutionary eyes that find laughter in the midst of pain.
Revolutionary eyes that see love instead of hate or indifference
and share that love with others. Revolutionary eyes that are
focused on the greatest of all freedom fighters, Jesus, son of
Mary, our adopted brother.
"My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his
servant
Surely from now on all generations will call me blessed;
for the Mighty One has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
His mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
He has brought down the powerful from their thrones,
and lifted up the lowly;
he has filled the hungry with good things,
and sent the rich away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
according to the promise he made to our ancestors,
to Abraham and to his descendants forever."
Alternate Image
The Singer goes to visit a cousin and her aunt. What a pair.
Her cousin is barely a teenager. She is pregnant and unmarried, a
child herself, and too young to be a mother. Her aunt is too old
to be a mother. When she should be enduring menopause, instead
she is preparing to undergo childbirth. They are bizarre and the
Singer wishes to offer them his counsel and condolences.
Neither appears to want to listen to the advice of the Singer.
Instead of being depressed by their condition they both appear
absolutely giddy. They spontaneously break into little songs of
happiness that spill from overfull hearts. Songs laugh at those
who stand about with accusing fingers and condemning stares. They
seem to share a secret which is precious, a secret that promises
to turn the world upside down. They sing songs about their
children who will remake the world. Children who will make the
poor rich, children who will be pacifistic, social and religious
revolutionaries. The songs are so infectious the Singer begins to
sing along with them and their joy fills his heart as well.
Reflection
Not all psalms are in the book of Psalms. Psalms are found
throughout scripture. Psalms are found almost everywhere if we
have the eyes to see. That is what the children of Elizabeth and
Mary have given us, eyes to see a world turned truly upside down.
Revolutionary eyes that find laughter in the midst of pain.
Revolutionary eyes that see love instead of hate or indifference
and share that love with others. Revolutionary eyes that are
focused on the greatest of all freedom fighters, Jesus, son of
Mary, our adopted brother.
