This magnifying lens you have in mind, if not in hand, you may use for reading fine print. Doctors use the magnifying lens of a microscope to see otherwise invisible bone fractures or diseased cells—and to guide their instruments of healing. Space explorers use a telescope to magnify what lies beyond the out-of-sight horizon. The Military use magnifiers in spy satellites to tell them what’s going down on earth. I use my lens for reading the mintmarks or grading the condition of old coins I collect, especially coins that are more than 100 years old. Many use such a lense for teh stamp collection.
The week before Christmas is a good time to look through the lens of Mary’s Song called the Magnificat, and recorded in Luke 1:46-55. So named because her soul is said to magnify (glorify, make large) the Lord.
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, even as he said to our fathers.”
Would that we could invent a magnifying lens such that we might also detect God at work behind the scenes. Wouldn’t you like to see His handiwork in creation, even God’s fingerprints, at work in your life, too? What would we call that invention? A God-meter? A God-scope? For now, let’s call it a God-glorifying magnifieror your very own Magnificat.
Whatever we look for our ultimate meaning, or Source of good—that is our Lord. That is your Magnificat. This will become
more evident as we look to our Magnificat for what it reveals of our (1) blessings, (2) joys, (3) humility, and (4) prayers.
First, consider meaning of blessed, as in Mary, whose life magnifies her Lord. Blessing is an act of God, by his mercy and provision. A true blessing magnifies the Giver, not the recipient. The recipient has been Abram, Hannah, Mary, and believers of all generations. Blessing does not connote infinite virtue or perpetual righteousness, any more than chosen or selected (by God) connotes choice or select (based on some inherent virtue in us). We are blessed to be a blessing.
Next, consider the source of your joy, or what you rejoice in, each and every time, as did Mary. For Mary, the source of her joy is not the child about to be born, but the One who answers prayers in difficult circumstances. What about us? What do we call attention to in the stories we tell, or in the outcomes that give us joy? In my case, I’m often writing an op-ed column, Facebook update, or job resumé that calls attention to what I’ve done recently. By contrast, Mary calls attention to what God has done, is doing, and will do.
Consider also the humility God calls for, as did Mary, the humble servant of her Lord. Humility does not mean thinking less of ourselves, as if we’re some lowly miserable creature; rather, humility means thinking of ourselves less (often), or thinking of others more—and God, most of all. God is big, we are small; we must decrease that He might increase. Mary knew this, some athletes, too. In the after-game testimony or interview, some give credit to me, while others to we or us. There’s no “I” in T-E-A-M. A humble QB, such as Tim Tebow or Aaron Rodgers, credits his five receivers; a humble running back his offensive line.
Finally, consider the content of your prayers. What do they say about our image of the Almighty? If full of petitions, then God is but a celestial Butler. If full of thanksgiving, as with Mary, then God is the ultimate Provider. Is it the presenceof your Beloved—and their smiley face when they visit at Christmas—that you most enjoy? Or is it presents from their hand that you most desire? (I’m being rhetorical.) Why then is it any different with God, the most Beloved? Is it the gifts, or good things from God that satisfy your hunger? Or do you seek the Giver Himself?
For a case in point, takeThe Lord’s Prayer: “Hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” We pray all that before asking, “Give us this day our daily bread….” There’s a reason we do it that way—that we might magnify the Lord.
We’re created to be a magnificent Magnificat. Evidence for this is seen in our blessings, joys, humility, and prayers. This evidence comes to light as we look through the magnifying lens of faith. Next time you pull out that magnifier, look at something more than your papers, stamps or coins. Look at your own prayers and Christmas carols for what they say about God. Look at the mercies of God over the course of your lifetime: note reversals of fortune, a welcome turn of events, any underserved gifts—all as coming from God.
Look especially at times of suffering. By faith, we know God is at work, not just in those good and merciful times, but especially in bad times, in our suffering. Mary knew this, as it was revealed to her prophetically by Simeon: “A sword will pierce your own soul, too” (Luke 2:35). Imagine the pain of losing a son. Her loss, our gain. Merry Christmas.