The name of Jesus is worthy to be cherished. It is worthy to be praised. This morning we want to look how this season can be a season of joy. We want to take a look at a song from one of the primary players in the nativity narrative. In Luke’s gospel chapter one, we have Mary’s response to being the mother of Jesus. It’s been called the Canticle of Mary (or Mary’s Song). Some of you may know it by The Magnificat; the title taken from the first word of the song in Latin. Or, you may know it by “My Soul Magnifies the Lord.”

It’s amazing to see the maturity of Mary; a 13, 14, 15 year old girl. Here’s what she sings.

⁴⁶ And Mary said:

“My soul magnifies the Lord,

⁴⁷ And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.

⁴⁸ For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant;

For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.

⁴⁹ For He who is mighty has done great things for me,

And holy is His name.

⁵⁰ And His mercy is on those who fear Him

From generation to generation.

⁵¹ He has shown strength with His arm;

He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

⁵² He has put down the mighty from their thrones,

And exalted the lowly.

⁵³ He has filled the hungry with good things,

And the rich He has sent away empty.

⁵⁴ He has helped His servant Israel,

In remembrance of His mercy,

⁵⁵ As He spoke to our fathers,

To Abraham and to his seed forever.”^[i]

What does it feel like when you feel you’ve received God’s grace in a huge way? It is overwhelming. Mary felt this way. I’ve told several of you that Pam and I bought a Christmas CD this year that was different in a good way. The writer took the passage we just read and set it to music, which is beautiful. The song before that describes Joseph’s feelings toward being selected. Here’s one of the lines, “I’d always hoped You’d have my eyes and maybe a bit of the skill of my hands, But as I look into Your eyes I see Your hands created mine.”[ii]

Since about the first of November, I have lived in the overwhelming presence of God; first, at FLAME where God used me in an amazing way. Then, God has used me several times this past month and I rejoice that I can be his servant and one of his shepherds. I sort of feel like Joseph, “Why couldn’t have God chosen another man?”

As the events over the last few months have unfolded, this I do know, I was called to Martinsville for such a time as this. I can’t go into all of the details of how God has been using me. It’s in the way that God has been using me that I can have great joy. Each one of us should desire to be used of God in this way. Let me share another line from Joseph’s song.

This is all I have to give/You can share my home and bear my name/But this is not how you should live/But the Son of God has become the Son of man/The glory of God taking the form of man/May the grace of God shine upon this man/’Cause this is all I have to give.[iii]

To repeat a theme that we looked at earlier this year, I challenge you to live a life of worship to your God. When you do, you just may be surprised at how you will be overwhelmed by God and you will sing as Mary sang,

Praise the almighty God/He’s done great things for us/Holy is His name/His mercy is free for those who fear His justice/May generation to generation loudly proclaim His fame.[iv]