The Eleventh Day of Christmas
Mary’s Song
“Mary’s Song” as it is referred to is a delight to read. She is full of the joy of the Lord and her mouth is the overflowing expression of her heart. For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks, and her mouth was filled with reverence and gratitude for the Lord.
There is a word that is used twice in this song and that is humble. In verse 48 Mary says the Lord remembers her humble or lowly state and again in verse 52 that he has lifted up the humble. This word, humble, refers to the condition of having no or little money also a place of being unpretentious and unassuming. Jesus himself chose to be born to a humble or lowly family. Why would that be? Peter and James say that God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. This is not referring to the circumstances of life but to the heart.
Jesus himself teaches us that if we humble ourselves or change and become like a child then we will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. In fact we will be considered the greatest in the Kingdom. Matt 23 says that whoever humbles himself will be exalted. Jesus did not choose to be born into a wealthy family or a family of position. Isaiah 57:14 -15 says to build a road and remove the obstacles for the people. Why? Even though the Lord lives on a high and holy place He also abides with him who is contrite (that is repentant) and humble in Spirit.
Jesus wants to live in us. He wants us to have the Kingdom of God express itself through us. He was a living example of how we do that. We do that by being humble in heart. He will revive the spirit of the humble – He will pour out His grace upon your life if you stay in that position that says I need you Lord.
John the Baptist kept saying repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand. We need to change our way of thinking. That is what repent is – a changing of the mind. He was removing the obstacles out of the way, that is our pride. God wants to come to a humble and contrite people and revive us and lift us up.
