Reflection: The years and years of desire of God’s people for his coming were answered like this, starting with the pregnancy of a young woman in a small town in Galilee. All his promises were fulfilled, starting here. Mary sings and if there was ever a time for singing it is this moment of recognition of the strange and mighty, the small and familiar ways of the Lord in keeping his word. She doesn’t sing about herself, although she is a part of the song. She sings of the goodness, the mightiness and the holiness of the Lord in the salvation of his people.

Mary has a deeply important role in the Lord’s plan to rescue his people. This role may well have been a terrifying one for her, but she did not stay in fear but moved towards the Lord in trust and in worship of him. Her trust in the Lord grew from her knowledge and love of him and of his nature. How can growing in the knowledge and the love of the Lord Jesus Christ deepen our own trust in the Lord, and enable us to live not in fear, but in hope?

Prayer: Dear Father, you always keep your promises, in surprising and unexpected ways. Thank you for rescuing us from our sin. Help me to grow in trust in you, so that my life may be marked by the hope that you have given me.