“And Mary said: My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior… For the Mighty One has done great things for me; And holy is His name.” Luke 1:46-47
Mary was a worshiper. As she pours out her heart and soul, expressing her passionate love and adoration for God in Luke 1:46-55, I am moved to lift my hands and proclaim His greatness too. This was no rote prayer, a “bless me, God” petition, a “repeat after me”. Mary’s cry touches heaven; and two thousand years later, her song is still inspiring people from every tribe, tongue, and nation. Wow.
I’m struck by the depth and maturity of this young virgin from an obscure village in ancient Israel. We’re led to believe that people, and especially girls, in those days were ignorant, uneducated. In our “progressive” era, with all the “advancements”, “rights”, and access to knowledge, you might expect more from the women of our day. And yet it’s hard to imagine a fifteen year old in 2025 who walks in such intimacy with God as Mary did.
I get it. Many of us live in reaction to the excessive exaltation, if not outright worship, of Mary that the Catholic Church has espoused. I think we need a course correction. She rightly prophesied “all generations will call me blessed” (v. 48). It is wrong to worship Mary. What we need to do is worship like Mary, to be a people who know how to press into God, that our souls may truly magnify the Lord. This is not an age or gender issue. It is a matter of choice. It’s a reminder that we are all invited into this kind of relationship with our Master.
A closer look at Mary’s prayer offers some keys. Clearly, she knows Him. She praises Him as mighty, merciful, holy, and faithful through generations. She knows He opposes the proud, yet draws near to those who fear Him. She prophesies by the power of the Holy Spirit. She references Israel’s history. And she knows the Word. In these ten verses, she quotes from: Genesis, 1 Samuel, Psalms (several times), Habakkuk, and Isaiah!
Add to this another painful fact; she was likely an orphan by this time. A young teenager who faced ridicule and public humiliation, the likely shattering of hopes and dreams, and yet there is no mention of a mother or father who could affirm and comfort her in her hour of crisis. What Joseph would do was an unknown. He could have easily just walked away leaving her awash with shame.
In her hour of intense loneliness, Mary makes two very wise choices. She could have complained, and thrown a pity party. Yet, she chose to praise God. She could have turned to peers for solace. Instead, she packed her bags and headed to the mountains in search of an elderly, godly couple whom she had admired growing up at family festivals. Mary sought out spiritual parents, and was richly rewarded. As she entered the home of Uncle Zach and Aunt Elizabeth, they spoke the Word of the Lord over her and nurtured her for three months. She returned home emboldened, ready to face her accusers.
I am reminded of two other instances when men of Israel faced a similar choice. One chose wisely, one poorly. When the city of Sodom was being destroyed by fire and brimstone, Lot fled for his life. Although he would have been warmly welcomed by Abraham who had raised and provided for him, he ran to a cave. Rather than get a warm meal, he had rocks for pillows. Instead of good advice, he got good and drunk. Years later David too was fleeing for his life, from the wrath of crazed King Saul. 1 Sam 19:8 says David “went to Samuel and Ramah and told him all that Saul had done to him”. Smart. Like Mary.
During the Christmas season, as we joyfully reflect upon the birth of our Savior, our King, and our God, it’s good to be reminded as well that the teenage girl whom God chose to carry and raise Him was quite a star too.