Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Advent

Readings of the Day 

In today’s Gospel, Mary proclaims the greatness of the Lord in a canticle we know as the Magnificat. An early Church hymn, many see the Magnificat as a prayer of praise by Mary on her upcoming birth of Jesus. It is this but more. In many countries this hymn has been considered so revolutionary, that they have banned its being read in the liturgy. Why is it so subversive?

In this story Mary, a young pregnant girl, proclaims the Lord’s greatness because the Lord has done great things for her, even though she is a ‘lowly servant.’ But then the focus changes from Mary to what God has done for Israel. Personified with a strong arm and a presence that cares for the people, God turns everything upside down, upending human status and perception. In a downward movement God scatters the arrogant, pulls down the mighty, sends the rich away empty. In an upward movement God exalts the lowly and fills the hungry – actions that Jesus takes up in the beatitudes where he lifts up the powerless and voiceless[i]. This action of God is not only something that just took place in history; it continues today. God’s mercy is on those who fear him in every generation, forever.

How would the poor and vulnerable hear this powerful proclamation of God’s presence in their lives today?  How would the rich and powerful hear these words that clearly speak about the economic, political, and social injustices of our time?  This is a hymn about social justice as well as deep faith in a God of mercy who continues to hear the cry of the poor, the disenfranchised, the powerless. To hear it is to believe that we, like Mary, are called to be God-bearers in history, and to know that with faith in God we can be transformed into instruments of hope who change the world.

No wonder it is considered subversive. It is a call to action.

In our country we talk about the gap between the rich and the poor, a chasm made more devastating by the pandemic. People have lost their jobs, food insecurity is deepening, unemployment support is expiring, people are facing eviction and foreclosure, and sickness threatens their very existence. And worst of all, people are dealing with unbelievable grief over the death of loved ones. Catholic Charities agencies are on the front lines, responding every day to the cry of the people.

In this season of Advent, we must speak up, let congressional members know that we stand with the poor, the disenfranchised, the vulnerable. It is time for Members of Congress on Christmas break to hear the cry of the poor in the silence of the night. 

With Mary, our souls proclaim the greatness of the Lord, our spirits rejoice in God our Savior. God has come to help us, remembering the promise of mercy. Come, Emmanuel! Give us the strength and courage to be God-bears to the world in your name. Amen.

Kathy Brown, a new Board Member of Catholic Charities of Maine, worked for Catholic Charities USA as Senior Director of Mission Integration and Catholic Identity from 2008 to 2017. For 40 years she worked in various ministries in the church including the Diocese of Phoenix, parishes, RCIA national team, and Catholic Relief Services. She served as the Regional Coordinator for Caritas North America for 14 years.   She and her husband, Scott, currently live in Gardiner, Maine.  Kathy has a MDiv and MA in Theology from St. Paul University, Ottawa Canada.  

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