The God Who Sabotages Our Ranking Systems

Devotional Reflection, Thursday, December 22, 2022

The week of the fourth Sunday in Advent

The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D;

Key phrases for reflection from today’s reading:

39 In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, 40where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit 42and exclaimed with a loud cry, ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. . . . 46And Mary said, ‘My soul magnifies the Lord, 47and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. . . .50His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. 51He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. 52He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; 53he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty

(You will find the full text of this Gospel reading at the end of this reflection.)

Daily Office Lectionary Readings (BCP, 938)

AM Psalm 80 PM Psalm 146, 147

Isa. 29:13-24 Rev. 21:22––22:5; Luke 1:39-56

Today we celebrate the Feast of Lottie Moon. (See below.)

David’s Reflections

Mary’s response to Elizabeth in verses 46-55 has become a song of praise in Christian worship known as the Magnificat (the first word of the Latin version). You will find it among the canticles in Morning and Evening Prayer in The Book of Common Prayer (pages 50, 65, 91, 119). Luke relates Elizabeth’s and Mary’s utterances as prophetic oracles spoken by people filled with God’s Spirit.

Mary understands that God’s choice of her to birth Jesus comes because of God’s grace. She has nothing that would commend her to God above any other Jewish maiden of her day. God’s call for her service creates a response of wonder. Why would God so visit her?

She moves on to the answer. God always visits and lifts the lowly. He always calls and seeks the service of the powerless, the unattractive, the weak. Paul even went so far as to say that Jesus died in weakness (2 Cor 13). Conversely, God always resists those who elevate themselves and who exert their power to the ruin of the lowly. The Exodus under Moses should have made that clear enough.

In the spirit of the Song of Moses (Exodus 15), Mary sings her praise, inspired by God’s Spirit. A new age of prophecy is dawning. Zechariah and Elizabeth, the parents of John the Baptist, are filled with the Spirit and utter prophetic oracles, as is Mary. Those who see the infant Jesus in the Temple, Anna and Simeon, respond in the same fashion (Luke 2). And, note that the primary spokespersons in Luke’s account are women, not men, and they are speaking as prophets.

Would that my response to God’s ongoing call could be as daring and as cooperative as Mary’s. Would that I could feel her wonder at God’s grace including her in the call to serve. Would that my voice in worship could be inspired by that same gratitude and amazement at God’s having visited me in all the ways God does. Would that I could share with Mary the sense of common ground and identity with the lowly and overlooked.

Collect of the Day, The fourth Sunday of Advent

Purify our conscience, Almighty God, by your daily visitation, that your Son Jesus Christ, at his coming, may find in us a mansion prepared for himself; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (BCP, 212)

A Collect for Protection

O God, the life of all who live, the light of the faithful, the strength of those who labor, and the repose of the dead: We thank you for the blessings of the day that is past, and humbly ask for your protection through the coming night. Bring us in safety to the morning hours; through him who died and rose again for us, your Son our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. (BCP, 124)

Today we celebrate the Feast of Lottie Moon, missionary to China (died 24 Dec 1912 CE). http://www.satucket.com/lectionary/lottie_moon.htm

Collect of the Feast of Lottie Moon

O God, in Christ Jesus you have brought Good News to those who are far off and to those who are near: We praise you for awakening in your servant Lottie Moon a zeal for your mission and for her faithful witness among the peoples of China. Stir up in us the same desire for your work throughout the world, and give us the grace and means to accomplish it; through the same Jesus Christ our Savior, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Of the Holy Eucharist (Especially suitable for Thursdays)

God our Father, whose Son our Lord Jesus Christ in a wonderful Sacrament has left us a memorial of his passion: Grant us so to venerate the sacred mysteries of his Body and Blood, that we may ever perceive within ourselves the fruit

of his redemption; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (BCP, 252)

In the Order of Worship for Evening

Almighty, everlasting God, let our prayer in your sight be as incense, the lifting up of our hands as the evening sacrifice. Give us grace to behold you, present in your Word and Sacraments, and to recognize you in the lives of those around us. Stir up in us the flame of that love which burned in the heart of your Son as he bore his passion, and let it burn in us to eternal life and to the ages of ages. Amen. (BCP, 113)

A Collect for Mission

O God and Father of all, whom the whole heavens adore: Let the whole earth also worship you, all nations obey you, all tongues confess and bless you, and men and women everywhere love you and serve you in peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, 124)

Daily Office Gospel, Luke 1:39-56

39 In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, 40where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit 42and exclaimed with a loud cry, ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. 43And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? 44For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy. 45And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.’ 46And Mary said, ‘My soul magnifies the Lord, 47and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; 49for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. 50His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. 51He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. 52He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; 53he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. 54He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, 55according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.’ 56And Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home.

Daily Prayer Offices in The Book of Common Prayer

Morning Prayer, Rite 2, page 75, Book of Common Prayer

Noonday Prayer, p. 103, Book of Common Prayer

Order of Worship for Evening (Vespers), p. 109, Book of Common Prayer

Evening Prayer, Rite 2, page 115, Book of Common Prayer

Compline (Night Prayer), Page 127, Book of Common Prayer

Daily Devotionals, page 136, Book of Common Prayer