Thursday, December 10

Scripture: Luke 1:42-48
...and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”  And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.  For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed…”

BLESSED

The hauntingly beautiful strains of Schubert’s “Ave Maria” captures our hearts from the first measure, even if we have no idea of the meaning of the lyrics. Composed in 1825 as the musical setting for Walter Scott’s “The Lady of Lake”, it has become the perfect frame for the ancient “Mary Prayer” which is derived from Gabriel’s declaration recorded earlier in Luke 1. The prayer begins with the First Century common greeting, “Ave” or “Hail”, which meant “rejoice” in Koine Greek. It continues with describing Mary as “full of grace” and “blessed.” But it is also reality for us today.

Mary is proclaimed by the Angel Gabriel, Elizabeth and by Mary herself as “blessed” in this passage. But what is the meaning of this proclamation? The word “blessed” appears in 207 biblical references, from Genesis 1 to Revelation 22. It is an important biblical concept. The often accepted meaning is the “condition or state of being in God’s graced favor.” It is also interpreted as “happiness” or having received a “gift” and even “prosperity”. It is a benediction we all desire.

There are many reasons that Mary was declared to be “blessed.” Today we’ll consider three possible interpretations that are very meaningful to me.

First, Mary is rightly called “blessed” because she was chosen by God, not based on her worthiness, but because of God’s grace. John Calvin wrote that “Mary obtained more than she deserved.” Isn’t this true for all of us who have been chosen by God to be called His children and allowed to participate in His purposes for the world? In this way, we, along with Mary, are blessed.

Secondly, Mary is “blessed” because she responds in total submission to God’s plan. Thomas Merton wrote, “The mother of Jesus is nothing more than an instrument of God, and nothing less than the perfect example of humbleness, which allowed her to communicate God’s love to mankind.” Again, we can be blessed, as we surrender in humility and seek to communicate God’s love to the world.

Finally, Mary was blessed because she is filled with God’s grace to fulfill His purposes. It was in the power of the Spirit who is called Holy that Mary accomplished God’s call on her life—not by her own imagination or ability. How beautiful it is to know that we too accomplish God’s call on our lives, not in our own strength, but in the power of God. We, too, are most blessed. In this Advent season. let us join with the Virgin Mary in celebrating that we are the “blessed” people of God.

PRAYER
Almighty God, so fill us with Your grace, that we in all things may accept your holy will and with the Virgin Mary, full of grace, rejoice in your salvation; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
(Anglican Common Worship Texts)

Dianne B. Collard, Biola Alumna, Inter-Cultural Studies