As we are now joyfully approaching the Christmas celebration, we can´t, of course, avoid the moving vision of the Virgin Mary, so let the gospel show us how she wants to be understood for our inspiration and worship.

In the so called “Magnificat”, i.e. the canticle of Mary in Luke 1:46-55, she rejoices in God in His attribute as Savior. “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior!” Indeed, Mary too needed a Savior who was “made flesh” in the child she gave birth to in keeping with what said to her betrothed Joseph, “You shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.”  Mt. 1:21.

Mary would never dream of saying a presumptuous word like this, “That doesn´t apply to me, for I´m sinless and don´t need a Savior in the sense the words were spoken to Joseph!” JESUS means “God, Jahwe, is Salvation”, doesn´t it?  Yes, salvation from our sins.

In other words, Mary looked at herself as a sinner that can´t save herself. That´s the reason why she magnifies the Lord, with such a joy.

Space doesn´t permit me to go into further details of that magnificat. But dwell on it yourself.
Mary didn´t point to herself, never. She said at one solemn occasion, “Whatever He says to you, do it!” (John 2:5) for that is really what matters.  It was He who said the wonderful words in John 3:16, not Mary. And it was He who said, “It is finished!”, not Mary.

The very last time we meet Mary is in Acts 1:14 on her knees praying “on equal terms” with the praying disciples.  With that she leaves us to meet us again in glory with the throng of saved sinners worshipping the Lamb who has redeemed us by His blood (Rev.5:9). For He is the One, the Savior of the lost, she wanted to exalt. Her example we want to follow.

Dec. 11, 2014 - jn