God Still Does Great Things
Mary’s song, as today’s reading is often referred to, contains some beautiful affirmations of her simple yet strong faith. Before we get to the actual praises recorded in Luke, I want to point out another extraordinary example of Mary’s faith. The angel Gabriel told her that Elizabeth was expecting a child. Immediately after, Mary traveled to Elizabeth’s home. There were no phone calls to confirm the pregnancy, no texts, or tweets, announcing John the Baptist’s imminent arrival on the scene. Mary heard and instantly believed. It shouldn’t strike us as strange considering her submissive reaction to the news that she would be carrying the Son of God in her sealed womb. Still, Mary’s faith had feet. When we hear of the news that God has moved, do we jump up to see the miracle? Faith would. We talked about how Mary had child-like, pure, faith yesterday when I shared the story of my 4-year-old daughter praying for her brother. By the way, her brother found his wallet first thing in the morning – just as Katie believed he would – with God’s help. In the same way, Elizabeth was heavy with child when Mary showed up – just as Mary believed she would be when she packed up her things and headed out.
When we read Mary’s song, we learn so much about her. She was not wealthy, nor did she see herself as a person of great importance – at least before the angel’s visit. She said that God “regarded the low estate of his handmaiden. For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed; for He who is mighty has done great tings for me.” These verses remind me of 1 Corinthians 1:27-29 which says, “God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong, God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.”
The story of the birth of our Savior challenges everything we think we know about the way things work. We have heard the story so many times that we might miss that truth. We recognize the manger scene as a representation of Christmas. We decorate with wise men and astonished shepherds, but do we ever stop to think about the irony of God’s plans? The world expected one thing, but God knew better. Mary declared that God was mighty and did mighty things, and yet He chose a very unmighty way of bringing forth His long-awaited Son. Or did He? What could be mightier than a carpenter king? What could be more powerful than a room lined with straw and ringing with the bray of a tired donkey? You see, it was the weak that would crush the mighty. The tiny, helpless babe that would destroy the kingdom of darkness. God doesn’t need pomp and circumstance. He doesn’t gain His glory through brightly colored lights or loud trumpets. He is glory. He is power. He shows us over and over by doing the impossible and the improbable. He uses us, though we are flawed and broken. He loves the forgotten and forgives without considering the cost. Like Mary, He has regarded our low estate and done great things for you and I. Let this Christmas be a time when you reflect on what God has done personally for you. What wounds has He healed? What thoughts has He destroyed? What chains has He removed from your life? The birth of our Savior to an ordinary young woman in a community of low reputation proves that God doesn’t care much about what society thinks of His plans. If we put feet to our faith, we may just get to see God’s next big miracle. Let us keep looking and keep believing because God will keep being great and doing great things.
(Written by Keegan Harkins.)
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