KELSIE PETERSEN
A few months ago, my youngest, aged eight, found a small New Testament he was gifted at a Vacation Bible School about three years ago. It bears special significance to him, as the day he received it also happened to be his birthday, and in his excitement over finding it, he asked me if I would read it to him at bedtime. We read Scripture together with his brothers as part of our homeschooling, but it was clear that he wanted it to be “just you and me,” so I happily obliged. I’ll be honest and admit that I thought he would forget about it, or even not be able to sit through very long passages before long, but here we are, heading into the Christmas season just in time to start the book of Luke. He never lets me forget; even when it’s late, I MUST read him even a short passage.
Tonight we read the second half of Luke 1, including Mary’s song, sometimes known as The Magnificat. This passage of Scripture has been woven into one of my favorite modern Christmas carols, “My Soul Magnifies the Lord,” by Chris Tomlin. I’m sure my son is grateful that I didn’t burst into song as I read, but I do know that the words of Mary’s song, her profession of faith, trust and adoration of the Lord, made my heart sing as I read them.
And Mary said:
“My soul exalts the Lord, And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. For He has had regard for the humble state of His bond-servant; For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed.
For the Mighty One has done great things for me; And holy is His name. And His mercy is to generation after generation Toward those who fear Him.
He has done mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered those who were proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down rulers from their thrones, And has exalted those who were humble.
He has filled the hungry with good things, And sent the rich away empty-handed. He has given help to His servant Israel, In remembrance of His mercy, Just as He spoke to our fathers, To Abraham and his descendants forever” (Luke 1:46–55).
This year, when I mentally run through the coming traditions and celebrations that accompany Christmas, I have found myself feeling strangely flat. I’ve hardly purchased a gift; my decorating (which I usually LOVE, since I’m not very good at it the rest of the year) remains about 34.63% complete, and I can’t bring myself to make any concrete plans for enjoying the company of friends and family.
Just this evening, however, I noticed how reading the stories first of Zechariah, then of Elizabeth, and now Mary, with my young son over the past two nights brought back a sense of the deep joy I was missing as I focused on my earthly trappings.
Remembering and focusing on the real meaning of Christmas has been important to me ever since leaving Adventism, and especially since our children were born, but this year, even though I “knew” in my head it was important, I somehow let it slip out of my heart. Reading the fervent, passionate words of Mary in answer to the Lord’s message to her was a reminder of the God that we serve—the God who did not leave us alone in our sin and in our misery, but came down, made Himself flesh and dwelt among us. The God who has regard for us, humble and lowly as we are, who has done mighty deeds with His arm, who scatters those who are proud in the thoughts of their hearts, who brings down rulers from their thrones, yet exalts the humble and fills the hungry with good things, who has remembered his promises to Abraham, and to us.
The God whom Mary worshipped is the same God to whom we give worship and honor as we celebrate the birth of Jesus this Christmas.
As you make your preparations this year, I pray that you will be filled with the same wonder and worship that filled those who first prepared for His birth those many years ago. †
- Now I Love Communion - May 25, 2023
- Can You Be an Accidental Christian? - March 30, 2023
- Boast in the Lord! - February 2, 2023