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Advent. The time of waiting and watching. The time to stay awake. The time to keep the status quo? Hold the phone. Let’s take a look at Mary’s words from Luke 1:46-55, also known as the Magnificat.
And Mary said,
"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."
The Lord looks upon the lowly, he scatters the proud, he throws down the strong and powerful and lifts up the lowly; he feeds the hungry and sends the rich away empty. Are all of our preparations for holiday feasts and gift exchanges distractions to the real purpose of celebrating the birth of Jesus the Christ. Christ comes to bring peace to ALL, to feed ALL, to bring justice to ALL! There is a very powerful refrain to a hymn in the ELW, (#723-Canticle of the Turning) “My heart shall sing of the day you bring, Let the fires of your justice burn. Wipe away all tears, for the dawn draws near, and the world is about to turn.” Advent is the season when we prepare for the one who will turn everything upside down! And yet we pray Come, Lord Jesus, Come!
Let us pray,
God of the unexpected, you come into this world to turn its ways upside down. Open our hearts to be open to the ways you would have us pursue to care for the lowly and to seek justice for all. And give us eyes to see the wonders of your unfailing love, shown to us in the coming Savior, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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