e-vo for week of December 16

Dearest e-votees-

May your quickly disappearing days of Advent be blessed and may your time around the manger this year be still yet more blessed.

Peace,
Karl

--------------

And Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. 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. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever."

Luke 1:46-55, NRSV

Mary and Elizabeth are together in Luke. They are sharing joy as they engage the pregnancy of the other. Elizabeth is one who is advanced in years and barren. Mary is rather young and not married. From the world’s view neither seem particularly significant nor likely candidates to bear such sons of significance as they did. Elizabeth will bear the Elijah (see Matthew 17:10-13). Mary will bear God incarnate, Jesus.

Both Mary and Elizabeth could be construed as lowly servants but God blessed them both. John and Jesus dismantle the power structures of this world through their lives, their testimonies and their deaths. Jesus does more of the same through his resurrection. The haughty are dethroned and the fortunes of many are reversed.

Promises made to Abraham and his descendants find fulfillment in and through John and Jesus; Elizabeth and Zechariah; Mary and Joseph. We, too, are Abraham’s descendants as we have been grafted into the promise. In John and particularly Jesus our hope and our deliverance is revealed.

God, we thank you that your power and your promises look nothing like those of the world. Your power conquers through love, humility and peace. Your promises come true--always. We thank you for faithful servants like Mary and Elizabeth. Help us to sing songs like Mary and allow you to have your way in our lives—all to your glory. Amen.