12/11/2013

Subversive

What if we paid "between the lines" attention to Mary’s song of Praise from this week's Bible reading 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 "between the lines"reading of the song play out now?  How subversive is it today?

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