PASTOR’S CORNER, Rev. Jason Toombs, Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church, Liberal
The Church is not the world. The world is fickle. The world is flaky. The world is lit up with fireworks. We have quickly kindled a love of celebration for freedom by lighting off fireworks, or at least hearing them, but the Church is more somber in Her celebration. While the world set aglow and is filled with “LOUD NOISES!”, the Church quietly celebrated the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary to her relative, Elizabeth, to see the glad tidings that God bestowed upon Zechariah and Elizabeth, as well as the gladder tidings which the angel Gabriel brought to that lowly maiden, Mary. All this is found in Luke 1:39-56.
After they shared greetings with one another, just as we might, the baby, John who would be baptizing people in the Jordan in the years to come, leapt in the womb of Elizabeth at the greeting of Mary as his Lord, Jesus, was upon the scene.
A brief aside. I chose leapt, even when most modern translations have leaped because that is a better past-tense usage of the word leap in my eyes, similar to slept. What baffles me most is that the King James Version, that most British version, also has leaped when the British way of spelling is leapt. There are sometimes when I envy the way certain words are spelled in the British way or said with the British pronunciation. Words such as Saviour and Grey, and the way in which they pronounce Isaiah. Back to the main point.
Elizabeth, at the greeting of Mary, and much like her pre-born son, was filled with the Holy Spirit and greeted the Blessed Virgin, saying, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!” I quote from the English Standard Version, not because I dislike the King James Version nor the Catholic salutation, “Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus Christ,” but because that is the Bible I am used to using as a pastor.
Another aside, there are certain times when the King James Version is to be used almost exclusively. This is especially true during funerals as many people want Psalm 23 and John 14, especially that part about mansions as opposed to rooms. I bring up catholic because we are part of the “universal”, or, more properly said from the cognate of the Greek words kata and olos, “according to the whole”, Church on earth. It is similar with orthodox, protestant, and evangelical. Once more, back to the main point.
After Elizabeth blessed Mary, Mary said, and we might sing, the Magnificat. This is Mary’s song, and it is a wonderful song to take upon our lips each time that we come together at Church. There are many other wonderful canticles, a canticle is a Biblical song that is non-metrical, not following a standard meter or tune, that does not come from the Book of Psalms, that can be sung in Church, but Mary’s song is especially brilliant in the great reversal that God does in the world. God lifts up the lowly. He scatters those with much pride in themselves. He exalts those who are of humble estate. He did this for Mary, and He will do this for you, should you fall upon your knees, cry out to Him, and confess your sins.
Mary had no worth in herself, for she trusted in that baby, which was growing inside her, just as we should all trust in Jesus. She was nothing, but she bore the One Who is everything. This is how we should be as well. The world seeks those who desire to be high and lifted up, but God dashes them to pieces as they are too proud in themselves. Instead of desiring to be high and then brought low, be the lowly and humble man, woman, or child before the Lord. Bow the knee in deep humility to the One Who lifts up the lowly and exalts them far higher than the mountaintops as He will exalt you to heaven.
Mary is the ever Blessed because she bore the One Who will bless her, you, and everyone with His presence. Jesus comes down from heaven to go to the cross. Jesus comes down from heaven to lay down His life. Jesus comes down from heaven to take you to His side. This is the joy that Jesus comes to give. In the world there will be tribulation, but take heart, for He has overcome the world (John 16:33).
Mary’s song is the Church’s song because of what God does for her and for us. God’s love is poured out upon all sinners who need a Savior to come for them. God’s love is poured out in the greetings of one another. God’s love is poured out when we help those who need help. God’s love is poured out as we love the Lord our God and one another. God’s love is poured out as we visit with one another, just as Mary visited Elizabeth and shared the good news with her that a Savior would be born.
