12/22/2025 (Monday) Today’s Gospel reading: Luke 1:46-56

46 And Mary said: “My soul magnifies the Lord.
47 And my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour.
48 For he has looked with favor on the humility of his handmaid. For behold, from this time, all generations shall call me blessed.
49 For he who is great has done great things for me, and holy is his name.
50 And his mercy is from generation to generations for those who fear him.
51 He has accomplished powerful deeds with his arm. He has scattered the arrogant in the intentions of their heart.
52 He has deposed the powerful from their seat, and he has exalted the humble.
53 He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty.
54 He has taken up his servant Israel, mindful of his mercy,
55 just as he spoke to our fathers: to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”
56 Then Mary stayed with her for about three months. And she returned to her own house.

12/22/2025 (Monday) Today’s Gospel reflection / sermon / homily: Luke 1:46-56

The Gospel reading above presents us with one of the most beautiful prayers in Scripture, a song that rises not from comfort, but from faith. Often called Mary’s song of praise, it is more than a personal expression of gratitude; it is a proclamation of how God acts in the world. Through her words, we discover that true joy is born when humility meets trust, and when faith dares to believe that God is already at work, even before the promises are fully seen.

Mary is young, unknown, and without power by the world’s standards. Yet her heart overflows with praise because she recognizes that God has looked upon her with love. She does not boast in her abilities or future status, but rejoices in what God has done and continues to do. In a world that constantly urges us to prove our worth through achievements, possessions, or recognition, Mary reminds us that our deepest dignity comes from being seen and loved by God. True joy begins when we stop striving to impress and start trusting that we matter to Him.

Her song reveals a God who turns expectations upside down. God lifts the lowly, fills the hungry with good things, and challenges systems that rely on pride and self-sufficiency. This message remains deeply relevant today. Many people feel overlooked, unheard, or powerless, workers struggling to make ends meet, families burdened by uncertainty, young people searching for purpose. Mary’s praise assures us that God is not distant from these realities. He is especially close to those who depend on Him, and His justice is guided by mercy.

At the same time, Mary’s song challenges those who are comfortable. It invites us to examine where we place our security. Do we rely solely on wealth, influence, or control? Or do we allow God to reshape our priorities? This is not a message of condemnation, but of invitation—an invitation to let go of false securities so we can experience the freedom of trusting God more deeply. Joy, in this sense, is not found in having more, but in being rightly aligned with God’s heart.

Another striking feature of Mary’s song is her confidence in God’s faithfulness across generations. She understands her personal story as part of a much larger story—God’s enduring promise to His people. This perspective gives her courage. Likewise, when we see our lives only through the lens of our present struggles, discouragement can easily take root. But when we remember that God has been faithful before and will be faithful again, hope is restored. Our small acts of trust become part of God’s greater work.

The Gospel passage above also teaches us that praise is a powerful act of faith. Mary praises God not because everything is easy, but because she believes in who God is. Praise, then, is not denial of hardship; it is defiance of despair. In moments when answers are unclear and outcomes uncertain, choosing gratitude becomes a declaration that God’s goodness is greater than our fears.

Ultimately, Mary’s song invites us to live with joyful surrender. It calls us to recognize God’s presence in ordinary moments and to trust His promises even when the path ahead is unknown. Like Mary, we are invited to say yes to God’s plan, to His timing, and to His way of bringing hope into the world.

As we reflect on this passage, may we learn to rejoice not only in blessings received, but in the God who remains faithful. May our lives, like Mary’s song, become a testimony that God still lifts, still fills, and still remembers His promises. And in that trust, may we discover a joy that endures beyond circumstances and anchors us firmly in hope.

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