Luke 1:46-55 is Mary’s song of praise the Magnificat. She has just made a long journey to visit her relative Elizabeth. Although, Mary confirms her belief and faith in what the angel Gabriel has told her (Luke 1:26-38), I imagine she was filled with some anxiety and wonder about bearing the son of God. She arrives at Elizabeth’s and before she can tell Elizabeth what is happening to her, Elizabeth filled with the Holy Spirit blesses Mary and praises God.

I can only imagine the relief that must have washed over Mary upon being seen by Elizabeth and having someone join her in her secret and wonder. In that moment I wonder if that is when Mary really knew that God sees her, loves her and will care for her throughout the pregnancy, birth and as Jesus grows up. In verse 48 she begins her song of praise and gratitude with “He (God) has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant.” The Hebrew word that is translated “looked with favor” is one word similar to gaze upon in English. It is the kind of look that parents give to newborn children and how lovers gaze into one another’s eyes. God gazes upon Mary, sees her, acknowledges her, and loves her. Mary is valuable in God’s sight. You are valuable in God’s sight for God has remembered his promises made to Abraham. God in blessing Mary extends his blessing to all who are poor in Spirit. God sees and saves the needy.

This good news elicits a response in Mary. What is our response to this good news? Here are a two ideas:

Sing and pray like Mary. We are in the midst of a season of singing. Sing a hymn of faith, a carol that celebrates God’s goodness and love, or a song that draws you close to God. Pray a Psalm like Psalm 86 or Psalm 121that helps you meditate on the God who sees and saves the needy.
Keep a Sawabona journal. Sawabona is a Zulu greeting that means, we see you or I see you. It is a deep seeing that communicates love and value. Each day for a couple of weeks keep a journal and answer these questions: Who saw me today? How did I feel in their presence? What did that reveal about who I am? How did I experience or know that Jesus saw me today?

The Cambridge Dictionary defines “advent” as the arrival of a person. It is fitting that I am beginning as the pastor at Emmanuel during the Advent season. I have arrived, and I’m sure there was some expectation and anticipation around my arrival. Halfway through my first week, I suspect I will feel like I’m still arriving for quite a while. When you come to a new place or step into a new role, it takes time to feel as if you have truly arrived.

In some ways, this is how it is with Jesus’ Advent as well. Jesus arrived on earth over 2,000 years ago, and yet we are still awaiting His arrival. We live in the “already, not yet” of the Kingdom of God. It is here, and yet we wait with anticipation and expectation for the fullness of God’s Kingdom to fully arrive. In the meantime, we have a foretaste of the feast to come. During these high and holy days of the church calendar, we sometimes experience a thin place between heaven and earth. Our feelings and yearnings may feel a little bigger or more raw, as we sing, “The hopes and fears of all the years are met in Thee tonight” in O Little Town of Bethlehem.

*Behold the Bridegroom Arriving* by Greek painter Nikolaos Gyzis (1842–1901)

Advent and Christmas can be a mix of hopes and fears as we remember and await anew Jesus’ arrival. For some, it is pure joy; for others, a mingling of joy and sorrow; and for some, it may be just sorrow. All of these are valid as we await the Advent of Jesus and God’s Kingdom, when Jesus will “wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more” (Revelation 21:4). Advent waiting and expectation heightens our senses of hope and yearning. Come Lord Jesus come, right every wrong, and usher in peace. Until that day, we wait like Mary and join with her in song and expectation.

Mary both rejoiced in God her Savior and experienced great suffering in her life. She bore the Son of God in her body, and we, too, in the midst of our joy and suffering, can carry the good news of Jesus in us into the world. Like Mary, we can be instruments of God’s peace and steadfast love.

This Sunday we will explore more of Mary’s story in Luke 1:39–56. On Christmas Eve, we will consider the mystery of the Incarnation and the gift of joy. Our service Christmas Eve is at 5 p.m. It is a wonderful time to invite friends and neighbors, join us for the 25th time or the first time, and reflect on God’s great love for us—a love that took on flesh in Jesus and dwelt among us.

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Patrick