Advent Hope - Day 22

Reflection

Today at St John's our Bishop, Anna, led us in reflections on Mary the Mother of Jesus - traditionally the fourth Sunday in Advent is dedicated to remembering Mary's part in the Christmas story and, as the Bishop reminded us, throughout the life of Jesus. 

Mary, said Bishop Anna, gets it - in fact in the words of the Magnificat, as she talks of God's upending of the Social Order so that justice becomes dominant instead of Empire, we see one of the only parts of the Gospel where anyone gets the message - the rest of Luke's Gospel (from which the song of Mary comes) seems to be more about how the Disciples, the onlookers, the enemies of Jesus didn't get it. 

This hope of justice echos through the Hebrew Prophets, the words of John the Baptist, and the message of Jesus. Our calling is to put this hope into action as we seek to bring about the reign of Christ, the Kingdom of Heaven, in the here and now. 

The Canticle of the Turning - a modern twist on the Magnificat, the Song of Mary.

Scripture

And Mary said,
‘My soul magnifies the Lord,
   and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour,
for he has looked with favour 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 for ever.’

Luke 1.46-55

Artwork

by Ben Wildflower