Sunday, August 15, 2010

Mary, Mother of Our Lord

First Reading: Isaiah 61:7–11

The prophet proclaims a hopeful message: The Lord loves justice and will make an everlasting covenant with Israel and her descendants. In response, the prophet sings a joyful song, like Mary many generations later, about God's mercy and salvation.

⁷Because their shame was double, and dishonor was proclaimed as their lot, therefore they shall possess a double portion; everlasting joy shall be theirs.  ⁸For I the LORD love justice, I hate robbery and wrongdoing; I  will faithfully give them their recompense, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.  ⁹Their descendants shall be known among the nations, and their offspring among the peoples; all who see them shall acknowledge that they are a people whom the LORD has blessed.  ¹⁰I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my whole being shall exult in my God; for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation,          he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.   ¹¹For as the earth brings forth its shoots, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up, so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations.

Psalm (ELW): Psalm 34:1–9

Proclaim with me the greatness of the LORD. (Ps. 34:3)

¹I will bless the LORD at all times; the praise of God shall ever be in my mouth.

²I will glory in the LORD; let the lowly hear and rejoice.

³Proclaim with me the greatness of the LORD; let us exalt God's name together.

⁴I sought the LORD, who answered me and delivered me from all my terrors.  

⁵Look upon the LORD and be radiant, and let not your faces be ashamed.

⁶I called in my affliction, and the LORD heard me and saved me from all my troubles.

⁷The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear the LORD, and delivers them.

⁸Taste and see that the LORD is good; happy are they who take refuge in God!

⁹Fear the LORD, you saints of the LORD, for those who fear the LORD lack nothing.

Second Reading: Galatians 4:4–7

In the promise of the Incarnation, Jesus Christ embodies God's mother-father heart, in love claiming people as adopted children.

⁴But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law,  ⁵in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children.  ⁶And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!"  ⁷So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God.

Gospel: Luke 1:46–55

Mary's song, the Magnificat, serves as a thematic anthem for God's work in the world and therefore for the ministry of her son, Jesus. In Mary's praise we hear of a saving God who remembers the humble, scatters the proud, lifts up the lowly, and fulfills all things.

⁴⁶And Mary said,

            "My soul magnifies the Lord, ⁴⁷and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,  ⁴⁸for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant.  Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; ⁴⁹for the Mighty One has done great things for me,      and holy is his name.  ⁵⁰His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.  ⁵¹He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.  ⁵²He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly;  ⁵³he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty.  ⁵⁴He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, ⁵⁵according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever."