magnificat

1 Samuel 1:24-28; My Heart exults in the Lord, my Savior;Luke 1:46-56

Magnificat or magnificent are words that derive their meaning from that latin which means "serving to magnify."

This is the primal focus of the outburst of Mary we encounter in today's gospel passage:

"my soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior."

The entire hymn reflects on the entire life of Mary as one "serving to magnify."

This outburst of joy is a result of her openness to the possibility of God, her openness to divine initiative and also divine providence.

This outburst is preceded by a question of suspicion "how can this be."

Mary's trust in God allows her suspicion to give way to one of joyful anticipation, "my soul magnifies the Lord, my spirit rejoices..."

Mary's history becomes the history of God at work.

Through the life of Mary we can trace the lines of God; we can easily surmise that God is always up to something.

What God does in Mary's life, he wills to be done in ours.

Our life can and should become the history of God. In our life, we can say God is always up to something. We too shall serve to magnify if we are open to his initiative and providence.

"He has shown the strength of his arm" and you can say that he is the original Arm & Hammer where you find "your daily solution" to life's stink.

By the "strength of his arm" God always holds us in the palm of his hands.