My Soul Magnifies the Lord

We are going to take a jump into the New testament today to the fulfillment of all the women in the bible and the most important. So a messianic check point. Also we just had the feastday of two of the characters of our story today on November 5th. Our Scripture Story is taken from Luke 1-2. Let’s take a peak and get started!

Verse 5…In the days of Herod king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, of the division of Abijah and he had a wife of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blamelessly. But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years. So again we have a dilemma of barreness, in other words, infertility. They were holy people, living in the commandments of God. Their life was about to take a drastic turn of events that called on all their trust and docility to the will of God. Zechariah went up to Jerusalem for his turn to serve at the temple. By lot, he was chosen to burn incense in the Holy of Holies. All the people were praying outside while he entered the Holy of Holies. And BEHOLD Angel Gabriel came to the right side of the altar. “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer is heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son and you shall call his name John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth; for he will be great before the Lord, and he shall drink no wine nor strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. And he will turn many of the sons of Israel to the Lord their God, and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.” 

We see the depth of desire in this man and his wife. Unfortunately though we learn something about the trust and faith of Zechariah. He doubts the word of the angel. How do we know this? By the response of the angel. It wasn’t a query of yes-but-how it was more a statement of doubt that both were advanced in years so it wasn’t possible.

And Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” And the angel answered him, “I am Gabriel, who stand in the presence of God; and I was sent to speak to you, and to bring you this good news. And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things come to pass, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.” – Luke 1:14-20 Fulfilled in their time. God’s Word happens in our lives and he foretells and warns and gives promises and expects us to KEEP His word in our hearts and trust that even if it does not happen right away there is a reason for that. It is a matter of timing. We error on trust when we act as if what He said will not happen. God is okay with questions just not doubtful ones. He is okay if it is a constant asking. He likes that. But we must know his answer is sometimes no or not yet and lastly yes. He wants us to trust and to stay close to HIm. Notice God’s consequence of Zechariah. It is a direct answer to “How shall I know this?” It is a remedy. It is to make Zechariah listen with his heart and his ears since his tongue got him into trouble. The people were getting curious because it was a long time and Zechariah still hadn’t come out. When he came out they were astonished because he couldn’t speak. They then understood he had seen a vision. 

Zechariah finished his time of ministry and then went home to Elizabeth. Imagine her surprise at his silence. He must have written his words to tell her what happened and we know how life comes about so he went into her a few days later and she conceived. That took an act of faith. He is already learning. We also see a posture of God in response to barreness. He wants us to know no part of us is really barren if we are resting in HIm in trust. He takes our emptiness and fills it. We just need to rest in him. We see the heart of Elizabeth right away. “Thus the Lord has done to me in the days when he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.” – Luke 1:25 She is listening with her heart. She takes a step back to allow God to work within her and to process. She does this for five months, hiding herself away, and in the sixth month something important happens. In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. – Luke 1:26-27

God is taking us deeper. He first shows us he can do the impossible by natural means but now He is asking us to take a leap of faith to believe something that seems even more impossible by Divine Means. We have a virgin betrothed to Joseph and they weren’t even living together yet. (Remember in Jewish culture, marriage begins with betrothal. They are already considered married by law but not yet by the traditional prayers and customs surrounding the marriage ceremony where he, the bridegroom, comes to the house to fetch her and celebrate a new beginning and they consummate the marriage. It happens before this.) The virgin’s name was Mary. Gabriel is busy. He comes to Mary and says, “Hail full of Grace the Lord is with you!” We see that scripture says Mary was troubled about this. She was trying to find a logical explanation to what the angel had just said. She is questioning with the heart. Gabriel immediately consoles her by an explanation and an invitation. “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God and behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.” Imagine Mary’s surprise. She was already preparing in her heart to take this leap of faith with Joseph into the act of marriage and yet she wants her virginity. Why? Not because she didn’t want to be a wife, but because she wholly wanted to be God’s dwelling. How do we learn this? Let’s read and find out. Gabriel Continues, “He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there will be no end.” And Mary said to the angel, “How can this be,* since I have no husband?” And the angel said to her, And behold, your kinswoman Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For with God nothing will be impossible.” – Luke 1:32-37

Wow! Just wow! Mary wasn’t asking in doubt. She was honestly asking, Um hello. I’m still a virgin. Children come about by the act. How can this happen? He answers her, “By God. The Holy Spirit.” He shows her the natural miracle of Elizabeth and calls out even deeper faith. Nothing with God is impossible. All of creation is silent waiting for Mary’s response. We see what kind of woman she is by her response. She knows she will be looked upon with shame and misunderstanding and perhaps Joseph will abandon her, but she trusts. She expects God to take care of her and work out all the details. The law didn’t look kindly on women conceiving before marriage. They were stoned if it was their fault. She knew, though, that God would sustain her. Her listening is with faith. She answers the angel right away, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the LORD; let it be done to me according to your word.” She instantly conceives and becomes a unique dwelling of God. The greatest dwelling ever possible…the Theotokos. The God-bearer. She finds the deepest fulfillment of what she always wanted. And with humility, she accepts her role and immediately walks in faith. She needs space to reflect and process. She goes to see her cousin and serve. Her break/retreat, per say, is to reach out to her relative in service, while she ponders what God is doing in her and compare notes with understanding, meaning to gently ease herself into her role with a woman of experience to God’s acts. She is seeking sisterhood and motherhood. To reflect on what to do and how to tell Joseph. How to listen to God’s direction and that their relationship will be different. A mystery centered around their child. An adoption of sorts that looks natural but isn’t.

Isn’t it interesting to note and ponder the difference between Zechariah and Mary? We weigh in the balance what the heart is supposed to do and how it is to act. We again learn what it means to listen with the heart. We also learn what kind of woman Elizabeth is in comparison to Zechariah. She is teaching him how to act in faith with a quiet acceptance of God’s work. She is using her role of motherhood and community to listen and wait for God to show the details and how to act in that signature trust. Mary leaves with haste to go to her cousin and when she arrives and greets Elizabeth, the Holy Spirit anoints Elizabeth and her baby leaps in joy and recognition of a greater presence. Baby is baptized and dedicated in utero. She isn’t jealous at all. She is honored. God is a God of abundance. She exclaims with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why is this granted me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, when the voice of your greeting came to my ears, the child in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be* a fulfilment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.” – Luke 1:42-45 Mary isn’t even showing yet and God gives Elizabeth insight before Mary can even say anything. You can hear the overflowing of Love. You can hear the excitement of love and joy in God’s plan.

And with a great exclamation, Mary responds with her Magnificat! Her own psalm of praise for one woman to hear. This most famous prayer survived generations and became a prayer for all of us. She didn’t know that would happen until later. And I want to spend a little time breaking it down, as it further shows the extravagant love of Mary and how she is overflowing with joy and humility. There is a great book by Sally Read published by Word on Fire that I am beginning to study with fervor, 100 Great Catholic Poems, to greater strengthen my own poetry and form my heart closer to the Divine. It was a gift to me by one of my very dear friends. Do you know what poem she happens to start with? You guessed it. The Magnificat. She starts with it as the greatest poem ever written. Her commentary is beautiful. Where does this song come from? A first time pregnant mamma with a lot of joy but imagine it is even with an even more heightened depth because she bears the Messiah who will save the nation and the world. She is bubbling over as a person does when she is in love and trying to find as many ways as possible to express the way she feels. Let’s take a pause to read over this prayer/poem.

And Mary said, 

My soul magnifies the Lord,

and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 

for he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden. 

For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed;

for he who is mighty has done great things for me, 

and holy is his name. 

And his mercy is on those who fear him from generation to generation. 

He has shown strength with his arm, 

he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts,

he has put down the mighty from their thrones, 

and exalted those of low degree; 

he has filled the hungry with good things, 

and the rich he has sent empty away. 

He has helped his servant Israel, 

in remembrance of his mercy, 

as he spoke to our fathers, 

to Abraham and to his posterity for ever.”* 

And Mary remained with her about three months, and returned to her home. – Luke 1:46-56 Three months of thanksgiving, reflection, sisterhood, service. She learns from Elizabeth as a mentor who is already wise in pregnancy how to walk with God with an understanding heart in preparation and Elizabeth learns with Mary the greatness of God. It is interesting to note the main theme of the Magnificat comparing soul and spirit and joy and mercy. The next is in this line…He has shown the strength of his arm. Everything after that shows God’s arm and her psalm reflects Hannah’s song for Samuel and Abraham and many other psalms. We can see she is steeped in God’s Word and speaks as one who knows as Lover and Beloved. So if she stayed there about three months, it is probable that she helped Elizabeth deliver when it came to be her time. (6+3=9) And after she returned, she would most likely be beginning to show. Imagine the shock and scandal that took place and word would eventually reach Joseph and suspicion would follow all around them. Some believe and others not so much the words, by the Holy Spirit. Whatever is that supposed to mean? But I jump ahead of myself.

Now the time came for Elizabeth to be delivered, and she gave birth to a son. And her neighbors and kinsfolk heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they would have named him Zechariah after his father, but his mother said, “Not so; he shall be called John.” And they said to her, “None of your kindred is called by this name.” And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he would have him called. And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, “His name is John.” And they all marveled. And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God. And fear came on all their neighbors. And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea; and all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, “What then will this child be?” For the hand of the Lord was with him. 

And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying, 

“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, 

for he has visited and redeemed his people, 

and has raised up a horn of salvation* 

for us in the house of his servant David, 

as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, 

that we should be saved from our enemies, 

and from the hand of all who hate us; 

to perform the mercy promised to our fathers,

and to remember his holy covenant, 

the oath which he swore to our father Abraham, 

to grant us that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, 

might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him 

all the days of our life. 

And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; 

for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, 

to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins, 

through the tender mercy of our God, 

when the day shall dawn upon* us from on high

to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,

to guide our feet into the way of peace.” 

And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness till the day of his manifestation to Israel. – Luke 1:57-80

We see how Zechariah has changed over his imposed silence of 9 months. His heart overflows too in being both the Lover and the Beloved. Joseph also has silence that is rewarded with a dream with angel Gabriel, again, of explanation and command in Matthew (which is written to Jews) following the genealogy of Jesus, in fulfillment of prophecy chapter 1:18-25 where he responds in love and devotion to his role as protector and father. He was going to divorce himself quietly so the shame would rest on him, solely. It would appear that it was his fault and Mary would be safe. He couldn’t hurt her. She was so pure and good and holy. We see his trust and obedience as a righteous man. His human puzzlement. But, He too, had a great heart that was wrestling to find, not wrestling to run away. The word until must be explained as it is used several times in this passage (and the other former ones.) It must not be confused with until Jesus was born that he then had relations. “Heos” means a select period of time…to or till , not a period in future (See Samuel 6:23 for an example that uses the same word.) He immediately took Mary into his home. And waited for further direction. But that is for a different story. Right now we are focusing on Mary, Elizabeth, and Zechariah.

Scripture doesn’t say anymore of Elizabeth and Zechariah. But tradition does. We pick up with their story approximately 6 months-3 years later after the birth of Jesus. Herod is jealous of a new king being born and sends out soldiers immediately to dispatch every boy between the ages of 0-3 years in the district of Bethlehem and surrounding area in an attempt to keep his throne and not let it be overtaken by a new king. Imagine the terror of the whole countryside! Elizabeth is not immune to it. Zechariah tells her to flee to the hills. She cries out to her husband, “I am old, how can I flee without being overtaken and seen?” This time she draws her strength from Zechariah instead of teaching him. He leads her. He models faith. His 9 months of silence gave him the strength to take the boldest move of his life. “Go. God will protect you. I will go to the temple to pray for your deliverance and you need to hurry as fast as you are able to the hills.”

She did. The soldiers saw her and pursued her all the way to the hills. “Stop!” They cried, “We will kill you, as well as the child, if you do not listen!” She didn’t stop, she kept going with a holy confidence. Her every breath and ounce of strength would be in defense of her child. They were about to seize her when, behold, a bright light engulfed and surrounded her and the child. An angel (perhaps Gabriel?) appeared in a bright and terrifying light, “You must not harm this child and his mother!” and the soldiers fled in fear. They went right to the temple where they found Zechariah praying. “How dare you aid and abet the flight of your wife and son instead of listening to the king!” They drew their swords and slayed him right there in the temple. He was a martyr crowned with a holy courage and devotion to God for the fulfillment of His plan and the deliverance of his wife and son. Because of his prayers, God was not stopped by the destruction of His prophet. What a stark change from the last time an angel appeared! What a change brought about in the heart of Zechariah!

Of course, in the events leading up to this, we see Mary pondering and holding these things in her heart. We see shepherds and kings (wise men) who likely gifted them with over a million dollars (some sources are beginning to find that perhaps that could be the case anyways. But they still lived in simplicity and poverty. It’s an interesting reflection anyways. That could very well be true and believable because God is a God of Abundance not scarcity.) She also looks to Joseph for his leadership and Joseph looks to the Lord. While he slept, the angel Gabriel commanded them to flee to Egypt when the slaughter of the innocents began and he got up right then and there, took the child and his wife and fled to Egypt until the angel told them to return to Nazareth after Herod died. The quality that is again brought forth, that I want you to take home, is to wrestle in faith, not out of doubt that God is powerful and will take care of you in Abundance no matter what hardship follows you.

Exclusive Merch!! For My Heart and My Eyes–2 Chronicle 7:16

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