Advent Communion

Mary's Song of Praise in Luke 1 is often referred to as "The Magnificat". She prays in worship:

And 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."
Luke 1:46-55 (NRSV)

Ancient near eastern Judaism meant betrothal of a young girl by the age of 12-13. The year of preparation would have been to assure purity, and then the marriage...probably at the age of 14 or so. It offends our western enlightened worldview to think that a 14 year old would be given away in marriage.

Yet Mary is beyond her years in wisdom and spirit. She is breathing out in prayer the praises of Old Testament faithful like Hannah and Sarah. She is reminding me that faith and obedience are fitting responses to God at all ages.

Advent communion...the desire to have communion with God is wide open to any response of faith and obedience.