In our Catholic tradition, we honor Mary as the highest example of a totally devoted life. Surely, her example influenced her Son’s complete self-giving. The most perfect expression of Mary’s dedicated heart is found in her lovely hymn of praise, the Magnificat (see below). In her prayer, we see her rejoicing in the God who has filled the hungry with good things, and raised up the lowly. We also see her acknowledging the great things that God has done for her.
At Christmas, we will also acknowledge the great things that God has done for us – by sending his Son into the world. Christmas, after all, is the celebration of God’s greatness and generosity. Mary’s prayer suggests that it is above all the lowly and the hungry who will experience God’s greatness and generosity. It is the lowly who are exalted and the hungry who are filled. Let us be sure to approach the Christmas feast with a sense of our poverty and emptiness, knowing our need to be filled with God’s presence.
Let us also remember that Mary herself was one of “the lowly,” one of the poor in spirit who hungered for what only God could give. Let us keep in mind the great things that God has done, is doing, and can do for all of us.
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Mary said:
“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;
my spirit rejoices in God my savior.
for He has looked upon His lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed:
the Almighty has done great things for me,
and holy is His Name.
He has mercy on those who fear Him
in every generation.
He has shown the strength of His arm,
and has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones
and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich He has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of His servant Israel
for He remembered His promise of mercy,
the promise He made to our fathers,
to Abraham and his children for ever.” Luke 1, 46-55
