Today, we read Mary’s great song of praise to God, the Magnificat. After being faithful, after being encouraged, Mary now sings this song of praise. There is much for which she praises God. She praises Him for His blessings to her. She will be called blessed by all generations. She praises Him for His remembering of His promises to Abraham and their ancestors. And finally, she praises Him for turning the world upside down. The hungry are fed, and the lowly are lifted up. We pray weekly for God’s will to be done on earth, as it is in Heaven. We see here the heart of what God wants it to look like.
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Good morning. It’s good to be with you as we continue our time together in Luke’s Gospel. Today, we read one of the great passages in all of Scripture—one that will be familiar to many of you, especially if you worship in a liturgical tradition like the United Methodist, Presbyterian, Episcopal, Catholic, or Lutheran churches. During the Advent and Christmas seasons, this passage often comes to the forefront. It’s known as the Magnificat—Mary’s song of praise to God.
After receiving the angel Gabriel’s message and the affirmation of her cousin Elizabeth, Mary now responds in a powerful, Spirit-filled song of worship. This isn’t just obedience; it’s adoration. Let’s read Luke 1:46–56:
“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.
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 forever.”
And Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home.
What Mary Praises God For
Mary’s song praises God for three key things:
- God’s personal blessing
“He has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant… for the Mighty One has done great things for me.”
Mary acknowledges the great and personal grace she has received. She didn’t ask for this role, but she receives it in humility and gratitude. And she’s right: all generations still call her blessed.In fact, John Wesley himself referred to Mary as a prophet in this moment—speaking divine truth with boldness and clarity. - God’s covenant faithfulness
“He has helped his servant Israel… according to the promise made to our ancestors.”
Mary sees that God is keeping His promise made long ago to Abraham—that through Abraham’s descendants, all the nations would be blessed (Genesis 12). Jesus is the fulfillment of that promise. - God’s justice and reversal of power
This is the heart of her song—and the key theme of Luke’s Gospel:“He has scattered the proud…
brought down the powerful…
lifted up the lowly…
filled the hungry…
sent the rich away empty.”God, through Christ, is turning the world upside down. In Mary’s words, we hear the beginning of a Kingdom where the hungry are fed, the lowly are honored, and unjust power is brought down. This is the Kingdom Jesus preached—and the Kingdom we are called to live into.
Luke: Gospel of the Least, Last, and Lost
This vision continues throughout Luke’s Gospel. In fact, I often refer to Luke as “the Gospel of the least, the last, and the lost.” When we get to Luke 15, we’ll read parables of the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son.
Luke consistently lifts up the poor, the outsider, the forgotten, and the vulnerable—beginning right here with two faithful women: Mary and Elizabeth.
Living Out the Magnificat
Mary’s song is more than poetry—it’s a call to action.
We live in a world that is not yet as it should be. Children go hungry. Violence persists. The lowly are often overlooked. But Mary’s song invites us to believe in—and work toward—God’s Kingdom breaking into our world.
Every week in church, we pray:
“Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”
The Magnificat shows us what that looks like. And as John Wesley believed, working with and for the poor isn’t just charity—it’s a means of grace. In serving the hungry, lifting the lowly, and working for justice, we encounter God, grow in holiness, and live out the Gospel.
Let This Be Said of Us
One of my favorite moments in Acts is when the early Christians are accused of this:
“These people are turning the world upside down.” (Acts 17:6)
May the same be said of us. May we live in such a way that the hungry are filled, the lowly are lifted, and God’s mercy is known through our lives.
Mary believed it. She praised God for it. Now, may we live it.
Thanks for being with us today. Have a great weekend, and I’ll see you Monday as we continue in Luke.
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