Christmas – A Season of Praise

Christmas – A Season of Praise

And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior… (Luke 1:46-55)

Mary broke out in a song of praise, after visiting her cousin Elizabeth, who confirmed the divine nature of the child she carried. This song, known as the Magnificat, captures a special moment in Mary’s life.

When Mary proclaimed, “My soul magnifies the Lord”, she expressed more than mere happiness – she was expressing the deepest kind of joy, one that welled up from her entire being. Her words reflect complete surrender to God’s divine plan unfolding through her life.

Mary’s declaration, “My spirit rejoices in God my Savior” comes from a place of humility. Despite being chosen for this unique role, she recognized that the child she carried will not just be the Savior of the world, but also her own.

Praise flowed easily for Mary at this moment, but we know in life that’s not always the case. During this Christmas season, we may be busy with shopping, decorating and hosting or overwhelmed by personal situations of financial stress, future uncertainties, or absence of a loved one. Or maybe we don’t even celebrate Christmas.

Yet, if we take a moment to contemplate on the birth of the Christ child – and what that means to us – the promise of God’s love, joy, peace, hope and eternal life – maybe we too would be drawn into a spirit of praise like Mary did.

The act of praise can be a powerful one. It can lift us from the depths of worry and anxiety, and restore joy to our weary hearts. The God who restores joy is also able to restore the situations and circumstances that weigh us down. “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord” (Psalm 150:6)