must have frequently meditated on what was read in the synagogue. She thought of the promise God had made to His people. As she thought, she saw the beginning of the fulfillment. About the middle of Jesus’ min istry, Mary heard that He was too busy to stop for needed food or adequate rest. With a mother’s lov ing anxiety and solicitude over the effects of overwork on His health, she was troubled. She wanted to take Him home with her and give Him nourishing food and proper rest. So she sent a message to Him. What did He do? He did not ask the crowds to stand on one side to let her come to Him or go through them to her. He did not even ask for a message to be given to Him from her. He simply pointed out that the spiritual relationship was higher than the natural. Mary was not daunted, for she was humble. In her song, she described herself as “ handmaiden," “ of low estate" and “ of low degree.” Sad at heart, Mary had to go back to Nazareth without Him, wondering all the while how long He could continue at such a pace. Yet in her disap- 11
call The Magnificat. It is one sus tained peal of thanksgiving to God for His goodness. Mary said: “ My soul doth magnify the Lord, And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour." It was an outburst of sa cred and unselfish joy. True, all generations should call her blessed, yet it was not because of personal merit, but because God had exalt ed her. “ For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.” This song reveals Mary’s conception of her divine mission. Whatever unique privilege was hers, it was swallowed up in her praise of the greatness of God who gave it. We can share our sorrows with God, and we share our joys with Him too as we realize that what ever exaltation is ours comes from God. So the apostolic injunction is, “ In every thing give thanks" (I Thess. 5:18). Mary was a quiet thinker. Her burst of song is saturated with the scriptures she had stored in her heart. There are references to or quotations from the first and sec ond books of Samuel, the Psalms, Job, Isaiah, Genesis and Micah. She
suspected of infamous conduct and became the subject of unhealthy gossip. The slander of Nazareth was so widespread that it almost led Joseph to take drastic a c t i on against her. She could not explain her condition to the townsfolk. Indeed for a time even Joseph did not understand her position. He would certainly have divorced her, if he had not been enlightened by the angel. Not every woman could have borne the burden that Mary had to carry. Sorrow and shame filled her heart. As many godly people all down the ages have done, she suf fered reproach for Christ. Possibly few loads are heavier than knowing you are in the right when you are misunderstood and are not able to prove it. But she left her cause with God and looked to Him to vindicate her. Mary’s reaction to the angel's words show her to be a rejoicing believer. Blessing for Mary meant an occasion to praise God. When she heard what God was going to do for the world through her, she burst into that song of praise we MAY, 1970
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