Mary's Magnificat

Gospel: Luke 1: 46-56

Everyday throughout the world Mary's Magnificat is recited at Evening Prayer in the Church's Liturgy of the Hours.  For centuries the Church has been convinced that this prayer forms a fundamental part of each person's life of faith.  Each of us is to magnify God in our lives; each of us has experienced God doing great things in our lives through the person of Jesus; each of us has experienced the mercy of God.

Also contained in the prayer are the ancient promises of God caring for the poor.  If we have been divinized through the coming of Jesus, then we are to do the works of God on earth, we are to care for the poor and fulfill this promise.  We are the ones who are to fill the hungry with good things and lift up the lowly.  If God's promises to the poor have not been fulfilled it is because we who claim the mantle and blessing of God have not lived to make it so.  

During the holidays the poor often receive far more than during the rest of the year.  We empty our pantries and closets of old things we no longer need or want to make room for the new.  We make our end of year contributions for the tax deduction.  We do what is convenient for us in this matter and forget it until next December.  The Church has us pray this prayer of Mary to remind us that the promise and the obligation is a daily one, and it is not convenient.