Day 19 Advent, 12/22/23: Mary Gave Herself Entirely to God (Luke 1:46-47)

Christmas in 4 days! Only 4 more days of Advent reflection. "My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior" (Luke 1:46-47). Mary knows what God has done. God lays low those who exalt themselves (Lk 1:51-52a). God shows grace to the humble, the weak, the helpless and the vulnerable (Lk 1:52-53). Mary wholeheartedly gives the entirety of her being to God (Lk 1:46-47), because of her gratitude for God's mercy and grace to her (Lk 1:48-49), while her ego desires nothing for itself. Her exuberant praise is due to what God has done as she also anticipates what God will do for her, for her people Israel (Lk 1:54-55), and for all generations (Lk 1:50). Lord, help me to deeply reflect and realize God's mercy upon my life, so that somehow it may give all honor and glory to you. Friday, December 22, 2023 Third Week of Advent Luke 1:46–56 Friends, in today's Gospel, we hear the Magnificat—Mary's great hymn of praise to Yahweh. The hymn commences with the simple declaration, "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord." Mary announces here that her whole being is ordered to the glorification of God. Her ego wants nothing for itself; it wants only to be an occasion for giving honor to God. But since God needs nothing, whatever glory Mary gives to him returns to her benefit, so that she is magnified in the very act of magnifying him. In giving herself away fully to God, Mary becomes a superabundant source of life; indeed, she becomes pregnant with God. This odd and wonderful rhythm of magnifying and being magnified is the key to understanding everything about Mary, from her divine motherhood to her Immaculate Conception and Assumption to her mission in the life of the Church.