2022:My Soul magnifies the Lord

3! 2! 1! Happy Twenty Ninet…twent..one… two!! Wait, 2022?! When did that happen?

I think that many of us may be feeling a little like this:

Covid is going through all the alphabet, schools are closing up again, hospitals are getting full again. We may turn a corner or we may back to square one; there is so much uncertainty.

I have been feeling down lately; not just with the external uncertainties but also with internal uncertainties happening in my life. It was during one of my slumps that I watched the Christmas Special of the Chosen “The Messengers”. The episode consists of the birth of Jesus from Mary’s and Joseph’s points of view.

In it, Mary has her Psalm written down so it can be given to Luke, which he placed the first chapter of his gospel:

And Mary said,

“My soul magnifies the Lord,

and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.

For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;

for he who is mighty has done great things for me,

and holy is his name.

And his mercy is for those who fear him

from generation to generation.

He has shown strength with his arm;

he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;

he has brought down the mighty from their thrones

and exalted those of humble estate;

he has filled the hungry with good things,

and the rich he has sent away empty.

He has helped his servant Israel,

in remembrance of his mercy,

as he spoke to our fathers,

to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”

Here is a very young woman with a very uncertain future. Women in her situation (pregnant but not married) would have been abandoned by their family and likely stoned. Even when that got resolved and Joseph took her away; she traveled on a very long dangerous road…..while very pregnant. Finally, when they reached their long journey, they have no idea where they are going to stay the night…. and her water broke.

However, she chose to trust God during all these uncertainties. Her outpouring faith led to this beautiful Psalm, which has the same depth of understanding of God’s character that Solomon (in his wisdom) and David (in his closeness with God) had.

During this time of uncertainty, I have taken to praying her Psalm. I do change the wording on verse 48 to “I am blessed” because I think that verse is personal to Mary.

Even though I am not sure what will happen in 2022.