Focus on ChristSample

Mary’s song

Faith in grace

Mary is there at the beginning of the story. Young, probably poor, unable to read and write, terrified at the appearance of an angel, confused by the news that God has favored and chosen her to bear “the Son of the Most High”. In a mighty act of obedience, putting all her faith in the powerful grace of God, she says: "I am the Lord's servant...May your word to me be fulfilled." 

That’s the sort of faith and obedience we ought to long for in our lives.

A song of praise

Later we hear her song of praise, magnifying the Lord, rejoicing that God has looked with favor on her, exalting the God who has “lifted up the lowly and filled the hungry with good things”. 

“All generations will call me blessed,” she sang, and rightly so. For Jesus said, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled”. 

That’s the sort of blessing we should long to see for our world – the blessing that comes from yearning for God’s kingdom to come on earth as it is in heaven, and for Jesus Christ to fill our world with righteousness.

Whatever he tells us

Much later still, after Mary had given birth to Jesus, raised him as a child and seen him begin his ministry of salvation, she says to his disciples, “Do whatever he tells you”. 

A holy hope for God’s people this Christmas – that we will do everything that Jesus, Son of God, tells us.

A reflection from Bishop Christopher Cocksworth, the Bishop of Coventry