Wednesday 22 December 2021

Today is Wednesday the 22 December in the fourth week of Advent.

The Porter’s Gate sing ‘Benedictus’: “you will guide our feet into peace”. You might like to make this your own prayer as we begin today.

Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Luke.

Luke 1:46-56
And Mary said,
‘My soul magnifies the Lord,
   and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour,
for he has looked with favour 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 for ever.’
And Mary remained with her for about three months and then returned to her home.

Mary’s song of praise is an echo of Hannah, the mother of Samuel.  Hannah had longed for a child for many years until finally she conceived, and, in her joy, she praises God.  Mary’s song is sung when she has arrived at the home of her cousin Elizabeth, who also had longed for a child and was finally pregnant with John the Baptist.  Hannah, Elizabeth, Mary are all proclaiming a God who intervenes in history, but not as quickly as we would like.  How do you respond to this understanding of God, who intervenes in history, but not as quickly as we would like? . . .

It is a long way from Mary’s Nazareth to the hill country of Judea where Elizabeth lives.  The terrain is difficult.  Mary is young and pregnant and on her own.  Luke has her making this journey and then speaking these powerful words on arrival.  Does this Mary look like the images you have seen? . . .   How does she appear to you here? . . .

Imagine Mary making the journey and greeting her cousin Elizabeth and speaking these words . . . notice how she stands, how she looks, how she speaks as you hear the passage read again. . .

As we close today’s time of prayer, what do you and this Mary have to say to each other today?

O Wisdom
Lord and Ruler
Root of Jesse
Key of David
Rising Sun
King of the Nations
Emmanuel
Come, Lord Jesus