Filled With Joy

Luke 1:46&47 And Mary said: "My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.”

We have a tradition at Grace Lutheran Pocatello of using the Holden Evening Prayer during our Advent worship services.  It is service that is filled with music, prayer and a short message or homily. The Holden Evening Prayer Service was written by Marty Haugen in 1985-1986 while Marty was the musician-in-residence at Holden Village, a Lutheran retreat center in Washington State.  If you cannot participate in a service locally with the Holden Evening Prayer, I encourage you to check out Youtube or download the service. It is to me an inspired work.

The part that reaches me most in that service is the Magnificat.  The words of Mary, shared with her cousin Elizabeth, put to music simply move me.  My scriptural reference at the top of the page is not the complete exchange between Mary and Elizabeth. Rather it is the tip of the iceberg so-to-speak.  Luke 1:46-55  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."

In our worship lives we are given opportunities to express our feelings of love for God our Father, love for our Savior Jesus Christ and to acknowledge the role the Holy Spirit has in the Trinity. You could say we show love for the Holy Spirit for the faith the Spirit gives to us.  There is one thing Lutherans sometime have trouble doing.  It’s visibly expressing our feelings and emotions in worship. There is the old saying “I’m smiling as loudly as I can!”  We just tend not to be expressive.  I am just as guilty as the next person standing next to me who is also not raising their arms during worship.  Yet, if there was ever an opportunity to just let go and be expressive, this would be it.  The Magnificat is, well, magnificent!  It is a very heartfelt expression of love, gratitude, and joy from the mother of Jesus. A simple girl who is serving the Lord in a way no one else can. She is completely filled with joy.  Her joy and love, as shared in the words of Luke 1:46-55, stands as a source of inspiration to all who serve the Lord. And guess what? That would be you and I and every other Christian because we too serve the Lord. Granted, we are not with child as Mary was. We can be inspired by those wonderful words in our service. When life has you down, when serving is not the joyful experience it should be, take a few minutes, pray, and read Luke 1:45-55. Pray about life and the service you are offering to the Lord. And remember Philippians 4: 4 “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”

PRAYER: Almighty God, Your servant Mary served in a way and at a time that was without exception more difficult than anything we can imagine in our lifetime. We thank You for Mary and all for the saints who have faithfully served You and have gone on to their reward before us. We thank You for their commitment that serves as a model for us. We ask for a full measure of faith when we are tested in our time of service to You O God. This we ask in the name of Jesus who with the Father and Spirit are one God now and forever, Amen.