Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Word + Flesh

Home
Bio

Home
Progressive Christian
Lectio: The Magnificat

Lectio: The Magnificat

Last updated on: August 8, 2012 at 5:29 am by Ragan Sutterfield

Lectio: The Magnificat 2012-08-08T05:29:01-06:00 Ragan Sutterfield

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

It is only through a denigration of motherhood that we do not venerate St. Mary, the mother of Jesus. It is she who carried Christ in her womb through the discomfort of nine months, gave birth to Jesus through the pains of birth, nursed God incarnate upon her breast, raised him, learned from him, watched him die, and then lived in the community of believers as a grandmother of the faith after he rose from the dead and ascended into heaven. Her position in the Gospels is unique–without her there would be no Jesus.

As Sojourner Truth once said, “Where did your Christ come from? Where did your Christ come from? From God and a woman! Man had nothing to do with Him.”

Perhaps the best way to honor Mary is to reflect on the longest passage attributed to her, the Magnificat. Spend 20 minutes in lectio divina (divine reading) with this passage. Read it slowly and prayerfully, listening to what God might be speaking to you through the passage. What did you hear?

The Magnificat:

Luke 1:46-55

Mary said,

“My soul magnifies the Lord,

and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant.

Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;

for the Mighty One has done great things for me,

and holy is his name.

His mercy is for those who fear him

from generation to generation.

He has shown strength with his arm;

he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.

He has brought down the powerful from their thrones,

and lifted up the lowly;

he has filled the hungry with good things,

and sent the rich away empty.

He has helped his servant Israel,

in remembrance of his mercy,

according to the promise he made to our ancestors,

to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”

Lectio

lectio divina

Magnificat

Previous Post

August 7, 2012

Dress to (Not) Impress

Next Post

August 9, 2012 Undoing the Magic of Money

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Confession Ecclesiology Ecology Fast Feast/Celebration Humility Lament Lectio Lectionary Reflection Meditation Memorization Nonviolence Praise/Thanksgiving Prayer Recollection Reconciliation Review Sabbath Sermons Service Simplicity Solitude Soul WOD Study Submission Uncategorized Vision Works of Mercy Worship

Select a Month June 2015 February 2015 November 2014 September 2014 May 2014 January 2014 August 2013 July 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who traveled with Paul and received letters to lead churches in Crete?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Titus Luke Barnabas Timothy