A Dose of Christmas Humility

At the end of Luke’s narrative about Mary’s visit to Elizabeth we have these wonderful verses where Mary praises God.  I want you to see the humility in Mary’s voice and in her words.

46 And Mary said:  “My soul magnifies the Lord, 47 And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. 48 For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant;
For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.  49 For He who is mighty has done great things for me,
And holy is His name.  50 And His mercy is on those who fear Him
From generation to generation.  51 He has shown strength with His arm;
He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.  52 He has put down the mighty from their thrones,
And exalted the lowly.  53   He has filled the hungry with good things,
And the rich He has sent away empty.  54  He has helped His servant Israel,
In remembrance of His mercy,  55 As He spoke to our fathers,
To Abraham and to his seed forever.”  56 And Mary remained with her about three months, and returned to her house

Think of how easy it would have been for Mary to become proud.  After all, she was the “chosen mother of God”.  It would have been human nature for her to somehow make her selection more about her than about God.  Christmas often leads to that kind of thinking.  We are tempted to make Christmas about the presents WE receive or the parties that WE get invited to.  Yes, it is a great thing to celebrate Jesus’ birth but it’s even “greater” when that celebration benefits ME.  And it does benefit me, but I’m the secondary beneficiary.  In Mary’s words above she does recognize that future generations will call her blessed.  Of course, her relative Elizabeth said those words to her first.  But the emphasis of Mary’s words is on the activity of God.  We too, must make the emphasis of this Christmas season about the activity of God.  Let’s keep the majesty, power, grace and love of our Savior in the forefront of our minds.

Merry “Humble” Christmas