Doing Good
“My soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior…..for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name.” Luke 1.
Mary’s Magnificat is such a beautiful song of praise! But as we read Luke 1 and 2 this Christmas season we see this is the first of four songs recorded in these first two chapters of Luke’s gospel. Mary’s song in Luke 1 is closely followed by Zechariah’s song at the birth of his son John. Luke 2 records the angel’s song of praise at Jesus’ birth announcement to the shepherds followed 15 verses later by Simeon’s song of blessing on the Christ child in the temple. The common theme of all of these songs is humble, awe-filled recognition and inspired praise for what God has done and is doing for God’s people, individually and collectively.
Have you wondered why we love the Christmas carols so much? The familiar tunes brought out each year, much like the boxes of decorations and ornaments, are deeply embedded in our memories of Christmas preparations and celebrations of years past. But could it be that the carols also speak into our souls? Like the four songs in Luke 1 and 2, the lyrics of the carols we love the best are songs of praise for what God has done for us as God’s people in the birth of God’s son, Jesus. The carols recall details of that first Christmas but they also offer words of comfort and hope that inspire us to work for peace, healing and reconciliation in our circles of influence because of what God has done for us.
A line from Pastor Greg’s sermon this weekend is sticking with me like the tunes of the carols that are playing over and over in my head. “We are the means by which God’s excessive good comes into the world.” Mary, Zechariah, the angels and Simeon all recognized their role in bringing God’s excessive good into the world. We each have a role as well. Will we recognize it? Will we participate by doing good? Will we praise God for calling us to do God’s will in the world?
O holy child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray. Cast out our sin and enter in, be born in us today. We hear the Christmas angels, the great glad tidings tell. O come to us, abide with us, Our Lord, Emmanuel!
Written by Kathy Paisley