What if we paid attention to Mary’s song of Praise from Luke 1:46-55? How dangerous would it have been in it’s original time?
- My soul magnifies the Lord, (and it is not Caesar)
- and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, (He rescues me from oppression)
- for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. (Humbleness is a virtue – power is not)
- Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; (They’ll forget about the powerful of this generation)
- for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. (And, again, his name is not Caesar!)
- His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. (Anything that challenges the power or the mercy of Caesar is dangerous)
- He has shown strength with his arm; (It is stronger than the power of any earthly ruler)
- he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. (The powerful are the ones who will be in exile!)
- He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; (That’s treasonous, right?)
- he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. (Does the rich include the rulers?)
How does a subversive reading of the song play out now? How dangerous is it today?
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