THE MAGNIFICAT

 

Not exactly the image of Mary most of us grew up on The article in the Washington Post source of the graphic and an opinion piece from someone raised Evangelical, and the pastor's daughter at that. The  artist's name is Ben Wildflower. When I first read the entire piece it surprised the heck out of me. But heck, I was raised in the Methodist congregation either so liberal or so controlled by the status quo that we didn't do Advent and we didn't do Lent. 

The Magnificat Luke 1:46-55

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,

my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

for He has looked with favor on His humble servant.

From this day all generations will call me blessed,

the Almighty has done great things for me,

and holy is His Name.

The first verses are the ones most of us are familiar with. Then there is the rest of the passage. The passage most conservative, even not so conservative, protestants are familiar with. Mary has received the visitation and goes to visit her cousin Elizabeth. Breaks into song and here is the rest. Prophetic song. The proud will be scattered, the mighty cast down, the humble raised, the hungry fed.

He has mercy on those who fear Him

in every generation.

He has shown the strength of his arm,

He has scattered the proud in their conceit.

He has cast down the mighty from their thrones,

and has lifted up the humble.

He has filled the hungry with good things,

and the rich He has sent away empty.

He has come to the help of His servant Israel

for He has remembered his promise of mercy,

the promise He made to our fathers,

to Abraham and his children for ever.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,

as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever.

Amen, Alleluia. ^[8]

The Old Testament prophets repeated this message over and over. Also including merchants who gave false weights and mixed the sweepings from the floor with the good grain. Also modern politian's who don't want the poor to be too comfortable if  it means the rich might have to give up some of their wealth.