There is a popular Christmas song called “Mary, Did You Know?”1 that goes through the life of Jesus asking if Mary, the mother of Our Lord, knew everything that He would go through to save us from our sins. It’s a beautiful song that has launched a thousand articles on what exactly Mary knew. I don’t want to add more fuel to that fire, but I think if you asked Mary the question she might say, with a twinkle in her eye, “Not exactly, but I had an inkling.”
Mary, of course, has her own song: the Magnificat. It is her song of praise to the Lord for His faithfulness and His power to save. After reflecting on her amazement that God has chosen her, in the middle of her song, Mary sings:
“He has shown strength with his arm,
he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts,
he has put down the mighty from their thrones,
and exalted those of low degree.”
Luke 1:51-52, RSV
Strength? A young woman is going to have a baby and that is strength? It seems like the weakest thing in the world. The mighty are brought down by a peasant birth? That’s something one would think that the mighty wouldn’t even notice.
Tomorrow is Christmas Eve, the night when we reflect on Our Lord’s coming to us as a baby in Bethlehem. Though He is mighty, He comes to us in weakness. Though He is rich, He comes to us in poverty. Though He is the rightful ruler of the world, He arrives as a peasant child.
This was God’s plan. He shows His might by using little things to overthrow the strong. He reminds us that no matter how insurmountable the obstacles look, His purpose and His plan cannot be thwarted.
The 16th Century poet Robert Southwell wrote:
"This little Babe so few days old
Is come to rifle Satan’s fold;
All hell doth at His presence quake,
Though He Himself for cold do shake;
For in this weak unarmed wise
The gates of hell He will surprise.”
Wherever you are, I hope that you will attend church tomorrow. Here in Houston, at St. Martin’s, we have six services from which to choose. If you are unable to get out, four of those services will be livestreamed. If you are outside of Houston with family or friends, or cannot attend in person, I hope that you will tune in through our livestreamed services or find a local church to celebrate Our Lord’s coming to us. Please visit our website for specific times.
Robert Southwell finishes his poem:
“If thou wilt foil thy foes with joy,
Then flit not from this heav’nly Boy!”
That’s how God has chosen to beat back the darkness — with joy! Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
1 Written by Mark Lowry and Buddy Green
