Magnificat

Scripture: Luke 1: 46-50

My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior;
Because He has regarded the lowliness of His handmaid;
For behold, henceforth all generations shall call me blessed;
He who is mighty has done great things for me, and Holy is His Name;
And His mercy is from generation to generation on those who fear Him.

Reaction: Today I opened my Bible to Mary’s Magnificat, so I decided to contemplate on this passage. I was especially struck by the phrases “My spirit rejoices in God my Savior” and “He who is mighty has done great things for me”, both of which are very true for me. Still, the phrase I kept coming back to was the very first one, “My soul magnifies the Lord”. I’ve never been clear on what is meant by this verse, but I kept repeating it nonetheless.

Eventually I came to feel that the little acts of kindness, compassion, and sharing that I may do, no matter how feeble or insignificant I feel they are, are sometimes magnified in the eyes of others to reflect the presence and glory of God. As I strive to be more open in sharing my faith, I hope that the goodness and mercy of God that I’ve come to recognize will be conveyed to those around me.

In addition, I know that God's greatness is often magnified in my eyes, whether it's in the beauty of nature of in the goodness of another human being. As I continue to become more aware of His presence in my life, my spirit can truly rejoice in God my Savior.