And Mary said:

“My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me— holy is his name.

His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.

He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he promised our ancestors.”

Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.

Christmas tell us that God is holy. He is set apart. As the Lord’s prayer says, “Hallowed be your name”.

Following that line in the prayer is the line “Your Kingdom Come.”

The God who put the baby, Jesus in Mary’s womb is a King. A divine King.

And anyone who knows anything about a King, knows that they are all powerful.

Anyone who tries to go up against a decree from a king is either a little simple or, as it says here in Luke – ‘proud in their inmost thoughts’.

Pride is ugly. And pride leads to ugliness. Those who try to take on God will be scattered. And ripped down from their attempts to be victorious. They will be sent away. And sent away empty.

For, as it says in the New Testament, “what you sow, you shall reap”. In the Old Testament, it says the punishment will be like for like, such as an eye for an eye.

You tried to steal something from someone. Something will be stolen from you.

You tried to deceive and patronise someone by being two-faced. You will receive a return serve.

Outside of the church, they call it karma.

Here in Mary’s song, a declaration of trust despite all that is about to unfold, her message is clear:

The Lord has an anointed one: ‘his servant Israel’. Do not mess with the Lord’s anointed, for such a servant will be helped. God is committed to his anointed one, and they are committed to him. It is a real relationship, in which both parties love each other.

Christmas makes it clear that the man, Jesus is the “main character” in the Bible. His followers, which includes me, are here on earth to faithfully serve him. We go wherever he asks us to go and follow him as merely supporting cast alongside his ‘lead actor’ role.

Mary understood this. Mary knows what a king looks like.

God will not be mocked. There is no impossible for God. He always fulfils his promises, for his mercy extends to those who fear him.

As for those who don’t fear him, well, Christmas says that you will go down.

And go down – HARD.

It might even happen overnight.

Yours rejoicing in God my Saviour,  

Alison