What does it take to make a person happy?
What does it take to make a person feel peaceful?
Are you happy today? Are you at peace?

We live in an age that demands immediate response to present need (whether presumed or real). There is an urgency to achieve success, yet there is no imperative to work long and hard for goals to be realized. Happiness and peace are often seen to be part of our inalienable rights that are tied directly to outward perception rather than inner reality.

Let me, again, ask questions.

What does it take to help us see the reality of God’s existence and presence in our life?
What does it take for us to feel thankful for our life?
What does it take for a person to offer up voice, and life, empowered to praise the One who loved you enough to enter into human existence for your salvation?
What does it take to make a person realize that our life is integrally related to the rest of God’s children? We have become deluded thinking that the needs of the individual are more important than the needs of the whole community. Hilary was right (as far as she went) when she stated that it takes a village to raise a child. The individual is important, but we must see that the needs of the individual are best met in the context of community. It is when we come to this realization that we begin to see creation through the eyes of the Creator. Our Father’s desire for His children is that we be in unity with Him so that we might truly be connected with one another.

Take a look at the story of Mary’s visit to Elizabeth. Mary had been told of God’s plan for her to bear a child. She received the news with faith and a desire to be found in the will of God.

After hearing the news Mary hurriedly left her home to visit her relative Elizabeth. The miracle of insight for both of these women, clearly from two very different generations, to the will of God was amazing. Most women that I have spoken with experience great joy when they feel the movement of their unborn child stirring. Elizabeth had that stirring within, but had the insight that the movement of the child was directly related to the appearing of this young mother to be. These two women, one beyond child-bearing years and the other a young woman barely of child-bearing years (as yet unmarried), rejoiced together as they recognized God’s plan for humanity to be fulfilled in the birth of Mary’s son.

Here was a time that must have been extremely anxious for Mary. She was engaged to marry to Joseph. She knew that she was pregnant with the stigma that was entailed in that. Though she received the angel’s message with faith she must have been anxious as to the consequences. Instead of isolating Mary went to be with one that could give her assistance in her pregnancy. She received confirmation of the blessed message from another. She received the loving support that she needed. This empowered Mary to raise her voice in praise. I believe that without the confirmation from Elizabeth that it is likely that Mary could have been overwhelmed by the reality of the situation she faced.

It is with this in mind that I would like to look at the song of praise she spontaneously raised to the Lord. It is with this that I want each of us to consider the context of her song. In a potentially disastrous set of circumstances Mary recognized the higher purpose of God being fulfilled through her.

Hear Mary’s words – read Luke 1:46-55.

"My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for He has been mindful of the humble state of His servant.

The words translate "humble state" would be better rendered "afflicted state". Her thinking in this context is certainly not regarding her pregnancy. What it better describes is the fact that she is not from a family of position in the community. More, she is probably from a poor family engaged to a man of the working class (not an exalted position).

We have read in the gospels that Joseph was a godly man. Here, we see that Mary is a person of faith and faithfulness. In the face of her life she recognized God working through her. God chose her on the basis of His will and not of her position. I am also confident that Mary was a young woman concerned with the will of God for her life. This is not to say, as some do, that Mary was conceived without sin and lived a sinless life. All we can say is that she is obedient in faith to have God complete His will for the salvation of humanity through her.

"From no on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me – holy is His name.

His mercy extends to those who fear Him, from generation to generation.

He has performed mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.

He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble.

He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty.

He has helped His servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and His descendants forever, even as He said to our fathers."

After Mary finished praising God for "being mindful" of her (in other words, being willing to use her despite her lowly position in the world’s economy) she made connection with the wider community. Note those recognized:

• All generations
• Those who fear Him
• The proud
• Rulers
• The humble
• The hungry
• The rich
• His servant Israel (meaning the nation)
• Abraham and is descendants forever

Mary recognized humanity in this song. She saw that God’s action of salvation was for all, and also that His judgment would be against those who refused His will. Mercy is shown to those who fear the Lord whereas He scatters the proud (a reminder of the Tower of Babel when God scattered the proud by confusing their languages?). He brings down rulers but uplifts the humble (a reminder to us of the fall of the arrogant that feel there is no need of God). He fills the hungry while sending the rich away empty (a juxtaposition of what we would normally see).

That which is most important to me as I read the text is that Mary recognizes her connection with humanity – she knows that her life is part of God’s design/providence for the world and all generations of humanity. In the Church of Jesus Christ we have lost this sense of connection. We have focused on the need of the individual at the expense of the whole. We have forgotten how important we are as individuals for the good of the whole. The net result is that we have lost the power to truly praise the God of all creation.

Think about it. What does it take to make us happy? What does it take to give us a true sense of peace and security? It takes the reality of relationship: first, with God; then, with one another. Let me make a bold statement in response to that of others. The others’ statement: "I don’t have to go to church to be a Christian." My response: "You can certainly be a Christian, but you cannot walk in the will of the Lord outside of the context of the community of God’s children – the Church."

The writer in Hebrews tells of the need to regularly meet together so that we can spur one another on to acts of righteousness and love (10:24). Paul tells us that we are a part of the whole Body and it is imperative that we act in concert with one another (1 Corinthians 12-14). Just as Mary connected with God and with all the people of God’s creation, there is nothing more important than us making that same choice.

Today, let us make that commitment to our relationship with God and one another. Let us remember Jesus in this day before Christmas and be empowered to praise the Author of our salvation.

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