“And Mary said:
My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,”
Luke 1:46-47 CSB
Praise is our design and our destiny. We were made to reflect the glory of our Maker. This is the answer to all of our striving and longing. It is where we are most at home.
It is also our delight. As we truly understand our God, we are caught up in deep celebration. There is something about returning to one’s source that inspires relief and happiness and the best kind of awe. Like Mary, we rejoice!
And, Mary is a woman of extraordinary wisdom and grace. The angel Gabriel has just told her that “the Lord is with (her)” (1:28) and that she has “found favor with God” (1:30). Right before Mary speaks these words, she is commended by Elizabeth for believing God. And she will soon carry our Lord in her very body. In time, she will deliver the Deliverer.
And so, she worships. Her Lord. Her God. And her Savior. In addition to God being the Source and Sovereign of everything, Mary recognizes Him as Rescuer.
This Advent we too can reach out to the Savior. The Baby whose helplessness will become our greatest help. The Infant whose neediness will meet our deepest need. The Child whose innocence will cleanse our every sin.
Our soul is designed to magnify our Lord and our spirit to rejoice in our God. This is the purpose and the point of our lives. With Mary, we too can declare His greatness and goodness. We too can proclaim His salvation!
Photo credit: Zoe Lim