Friday, 22nd DECEMBER 2017.
Luke 1:46–56
Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour, 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."
Of course all generations would call you blessed, would they not? You are the Mother of God! Chosen from among millions to be the Mother of Jesus. And what did you say? "He who is mighty has done great things for me." It has all been God's doing. The only creature in the world who could boast about her gifts and talents, considers herself the handmaid of God. Blessed are you, Mother!
When our friends praise us for our deeds, we thank them for their kindness. When Elizabeth extols Mary, Mary glorifies God. Mary receives praise as a mirror receives light; she doesn't store it but makes it pass from her to God, to whom is due all praise, all honour and thanksgiving. It is above all a wonderful praise of Almighty God, an act of thanksgiving for the goodness of the Creator. The shortened form of Mary's song – the 'Magnificat' – is: "Thank God."
Mary's song has two notes: humility and joy. Her spirit rejoices because God has looked favourably on her humility. A box that is filled with sand cannot be filled with gold; a soul bursting with its own ego can never be filled with God. The emptier the soul is of self, the greater room in it for God. And Mary was all room, free space into which God could pour His grace. God did great things in Mary because of her humility. He will hardly do great things in us if He doesn't also see our humility.
Humility attracts the attention of God: "It was the virtue which attracted the gaze of the Most Holy Trinity to his Mother and our Mother: the humility of knowing and being aware of our nothingness…
'Because he has looked graciously upon the lowliness of his handmaid' ...I am more convinced every day that authentic humility is the supernatural basis for all virtues! Talk to Our Lady, so that she may train us to walk along that path". (St Josemaría).
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Commentary of the day :
Saint Ambrose (c.340-397), Bishop of Milan and Doctor of the Church
Commentary on St Luke's Gospel, 2, 26-27 (SC 45)
"Glorify the Lord with me" (Ps 34 [33]:4)
If only Mary's soul might dwell in us all to praise the Lord; if only Mary's spirit might dwell in us all to exult in God. If, physically speaking, there is only one Mother of Christ, Christ is the fruit of all of us through faith since every soul receives the Word of God provided it remains without fault, preserved from evil and sin, guarding its chastity in uncorrupted purity. For every soul to attain this state exalts the Lord just as Mary's soul exalted the Lord and as her spirit rejoiced in God her Saviour.
The Lord is indeed glorified, as you have read elsewhere: "Glorify the Lord with me" (Ps 34 [33]:4). Not that human words can add anything to the Lord but because he is growing greater in us. For "Christ is the image of God" (2Cor 4:4) and therefore the soul who does something righteous and holy glorifies that image of God in the likeness of which it has been created. Thus too, by glorifying it, the soul participates in a certain manner in its greatness and is raised up by it. It seems to reproduce this image in itself through the brilliant colours of its good works and to imitate it in a certain way by its virtues.
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