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I have a story to tell you about the Magnificat, Luke chapter 1 verses 46 to 55. Last Sunday, at the 11 am service, I was standing right here in your midst, reading from Luke chapter 3 about John the Baptist.
Sabrina was the Verger at 11am and she led me down to the Saint John’s Bible. We arrived with about a verse to go on the sequence hymn. As we stood waiting for the hymn to end, the sunlight was streaming in the windows, bright rays of golden beams landing on the open pages. As I looked at the words I was about to read, I could see the bold imprint of the Magnificat in reverse. It was the image printed on the cover of your bulletin, the one you see in the Bible right now on the open page. It is so grand that it is visible on the back side of that page. Does that make sense?\
When it was created on the original calfskin, the imprint of the Magnificat illumination became visible on the other side of the page. That minute detail has been retained in this version, re-created in this fine art reproduction of the original.
The Magnificat is so important, it was given special treatment in the creating of the Saint John’s Bible. The dark blue is for Mary – the Sarum blue of Advent.
We use this blue to remind us that we are waiting and watching for the birth of Christ, our King. Deep blue or sarum blue is the color of the clear, night sky. It is a dark and cold color that covers the earth in the hours before the sun rises in the east. It is a color we are well acquainted with in the Pacific Northwest this time of year.
Mary’s blue is a serious color that draws us in and reminds us something serious is about to happen. A King is coming – but not the kind of king we might expect. This King is a baby who was born in a barn.
Sarum blue is the color of the Magnificat, of Mary’s prophetic witness and the words are printed in gold. In The Saint John’s Bible, gold represents the presence of the divine.
Alice Foreman, our benefactor of this bible, loves the divine symbolism of the color gold. If you pay close attention, you will notice shimmering gold in our flower arrangements from time to time. Like you see today. This is Alice’s way of reminding us that God is ever near.
What is it about Mary that so captivates our imaginations? It seems as if we have been waiting forever these past few weeks of Advent. We’ve been waiting with hope for the birth of Christ and all the while – the readings have been full of foreboding, warning, and lots of John the Baptist. Now, I love John the Baptist as much as anyone, but finally, finally we are here with Mary and Elizabeth and the impending birth of the Christ child.
Mary’s cousin, Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist, issues her prophetic words in the form of a beatitude. She confirms what Mary has already heard from the angel Gabriel. “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!”
Elizabeth is giving Mary the companionship and courage she needs in THIS moment. This story tells us that Mary is a believer.
People point to Mary’s interaction with the angel Gabriel as the moment in which she accepts what God is asking her to do. This is when she consents to being the mother of Jesus. But is Mary merely a vessel for the Christ child? Or, is she much, much more?
Mary is more than a consenting agent, she is a believer. She believes a fulfillment is taking place and God is keeping promises. Mary’s response to Elizabeth, the Magnificat as we know it, demonstrates her profound belief. In this moment of pregnant expectation, Mary shows us what it looks like to possess insight, belief, and complete trust in God our Savior.
What Mary believes and how that is being fulfilled is the Magnificat. You know the Magnificat –
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.
Mary’s Magnificat is a hymn of praise and thanksgiving to God. In it, Mary exalts the greatness of the Lord and rejoices in God her Savior. She reflects on God’s favor towards her, a humble servant, and acknowledges the mighty deeds God has done.
The reason I was so struck last Sunday by the imprint of the Magnificat shining through the page is this: John the Baptist is pointing the way to Jesus. Mary is pointing the way to Jesus because she knows in her very bones that he will be the Messiah. The brilliant sunshine streaming in the windows highlighted in that moment, the power of those preparing the way for Christ. For that is what Advent is all about.
The Magnificat highlights God’s mercy, strength, and justice—lifting the lowly, filling the hungry with good things, and sending the rich away empty. It also emphasizes God’s faithfulness to the promises made to Abraham and his descendants forever. This canticle is a powerful expression of Mary’s faith and trust in God’s transformative work in the world.
This, Mary believes, is the fulfillment of God’s character. She sees herself in that generational promise of blessedness, the “all generations” of v. 45. Mary truly gets it. Nothing is lacking.
This is Mary’s response to her acknowledging her own blessedness. Like Mary, you are a beloved child of God, worthy of love and belonging.
You might be wondering why we pray the Magnificat. That’s a good question. It is traditionally used in the Daily Office, particularly at Evensong, as a way to center our hearts on God’s ongoing work in the world.
I like to think of it as both/and. It centers our hearts on God’s ongoing work in the world AND it invites us to imagine our response to God. How might we acknowledge our own blessedness?
If you had to sing your own Magnificat, what would you say? Actually, think about it for a moment. Jot down some ideas in the box in your bulletin and take it home to pray about further.
In these celebrated words, Mary knits together her own experience into the fulfillment of God’s promises. What does that look like in your life? Just as Mary has been seen by God, so God sees you. Will we be willing to see as God sees? Are we obedient to seeing as Jesus sees? Can we acknowledge our own worthiness and belovedness?
As we move toward the celebration of Christ’s birth, let Mary’s Magnificat inspire us to magnify God in our own lives. Her words call us to see the world through God’s eyes—lifting the lowly, filling the hungry, and trusting in promises fulfilled. Like Mary, may we embody faith, hope, and love, preparing our hearts to receive the Christ child. Let us go forth, reminded of our own belovedness, and ready to reflect God’s grace and presence in all we do.