20 December 2015 …
Luke 1:39-45(46-55)
“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.”
Reading the Magnificat the week before Christmas keeps us grounded in
the past and the future simultaneously.
In the 8th Century BCE, Isaiah writes in Chapter 11, “But with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will
give decisions for the poor of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod
of his mouth; with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked.” Again in Chapter 13, Isaiah writes, “I will
punish the world for its evil, the wicked for their sins. I will put an end to
the arrogance of the haughty and will humble the pride of the ruthless.” When Jesus begins his ministry, he quotes
from Joel when he tells folks he has come to feed the hungry, clothe the naked,
and free the prisoners from their chains.
These are important words for us as we prepare to celebrate
the coming of Jesus. They remind us that
Jesus was born homeless, quickly became a refugee, and eventually became the
man who would change history for all time.
These are important words for us as we prepare to celebrate Christmas in
the midst of the chaos of the current struggles for power that are
disenfranchising multiple populations, and creating ever more hungry and
homeless people. These words give us
hope.
To quote more modern prophets:
“Permanence,
perseverance and persistence in spite of all obstacles, discouragements, and
impossibilities: It is this, that in all things distinguishes the strong soul from
the weak.” (Thomas Carlyle)
“Only the weak are cruel. Gentleness can only be
expected from the strong.” (Leo Buscaglia)
“The
arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice.” (Martin
Luther King Jr.)
