One of the brothers had a brilliant reflection on Mary's Magnificat, which is the gospel for today.
Mary proclaims:
My soul magnifies the Lord; my spirit exalts in God my Savior!
The brother said: "The soul is a dangerous thing; it always magnifies something. If we don't let it magnify the Lord, it will magnify our problems and faults and put everything out of perspective."
Hi Friar,
ReplyDeleteI've always liked the magnification metaphor. Good comments.
Mary didn't say that her words magnify the Lord, or her heart, mind, songs of praise, works, etc... She said it was her soul. She is very much aware that she has been lifted by God from her lowly state, and that she is indeed a "special creature". This is not something she is boasting of. She is giving *all* glory to God. It is clearly a matter of God crowning his own gifts, and the magnification is not of her, but of God's power.
What does magnification do? It helps us to see more clearly. What may lay hidden from us becomes more manifest. Through her, God has shown His power and Glory. In her life and in her example, we see the way to Christ more clearly. She is the model of a perfect disciple. When we do good works, God is crowning His own gifts. In her, God has crowned His own gifts most perfectly.
If I don't "see" you before then, I wish you and your brothers a Blessed Christmas.
Wow, Jeff. One of the best Christmas homilies I've ever read. Merry Christmas to you and yours as well.
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