46 And Mary said, ‘My soul magnifies the Lord, 47and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour, 48 for he has looked with favour on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; 49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. 50 His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.51 He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. 52 He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly;53 he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty.54 He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, 55 according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants.

Because we share a name, I’ve always wondered about Mary’s “backstory.” Every time I hear the song “Mary, Did You Know?” I think about how scared and humbled Mary would have been to find out she was carrying the Christ child. I love this scripture passage because it gives us insight into her thoughts.

Mary’s words, spoken with awe and humility, reveal a heart overflowing with gratitude to God, who sees, loves, and lifts up the lowly. In her praise, she magnifies God’s power to overturn earthly expectations:  the proud are scattered, the powerful dethroned, the hungry filled, and the humble exalted. Mary’s song reminds us that God’s love does not abide by worldly measures of worth or strength. Instead, His mercy and compassion reach those who feel small, overlooked, or burdened.

In Advent, as we await the birth of Christ, we are invited to ponder how God might be calling us to receive His love with similar humility and awe. This season, may we join Mary in magnifying the Lord, recognizing His presence in our lives, and opening our hearts to His transformative love. In doing so, we prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus—the ultimate expression of God’s enduring mercy, fulfilling His promises to all generations.

Contributed by Mary Mann