Today we celebrate Mary, Mother of our Lord. Martin Luther wrote in his devotional on The Magnificat: “The tender mother of Christ . . . teaches us, with her words and by the example of her experience, how to know, love, and praise God.”

Mary is an example of faith and a model of humility, but I’d like to consider her as a revolutionary. She visits her kinswoman Elizabeth and declares, “My soul magnifies the Lord . . . for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant . . . 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.” Is that revolutionary? The government of Guatemala once thought so and forbade the singing of this song.

Actually, it’s not Mary who’s a revolutionary, but God. God puts down the mighty and lifts up the lowly. This is theme that appears throughout Scripture, especially in the Psalms, prophets and the teachings of Jesus. Mary simply rejoices that she has been the beneficiary of God’s grace. She, who was a nobody, was chosen by God to be the mother of the Savior.

This message of Mary cuts two ways. First, we ought not to diminish ourselves because we think we have limited talents, resources, or authority. God can accomplish wonders with us. Second, we ought not arrogantly to hold others in low regard because they don’t come up to our exalted standards. God works wonders with them also.

May we be inspired by the grace God showed to Mary.

Read Luke 1:46-55 and remember: God loves YOU unconditionally.

Wayne