The Advent season is often accompanied by increased stress and pain for many of us. Knowing our tendency toward hurry and to accumulate mental and emotional weights during this time of year. Let us slow down and sit quietly this week and reflect on God’s ways. Mary’s prayer helps us see the nature of God’s Kingdom and His redemptive work.

“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.”” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭1‬:‭47‬-‭55‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Consider some of the elements of her prayer juxtaposed to this prayer of Jesus several chapters later in the gospel of Luke.

“In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”” Luke‬ ‭10‬:‭21‬-‭22‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Advent Prayer

Father, thank you for the ways that you work! We rejoice with Mary and Jesus over the way you reveal yourself to the humble and child-like, yet you conceal yourself from the proud know-it-alls. You  lift the lowly and bring down the proud. You help the humble. 

During this advent season we remember that you King Jesus  have shown us the ultimate expression of humility in the incarnation and in suffering (Philippians 2:5-8). 

We thank you Father that because of Christ’s humility expressed by coming down to us and suffering on our behalf we have been raised up with Christ (Colossians 3:1). Thank you that through the coming of Christ “Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low….And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed… (Isaiah‬ ‭40‬:‭4‬-‭5‬ ‭ESV‬‬).

May our hearts be humbled this advent season as we reflect on the grace that has been brought to us in the first advent and the grace will be brought to us in the second advent (1 Peter 1:13). 

May we be quieted before you as we reflect on your holiness and great redemptive work (Luke 2:19) and become aware of your presence with us, Emmanuel (Matthew 1:23)