Luke 1 - The Magnificat and Occupy Edmonton

(Click here to read Luke 1)

(also see my last post for more on Luke 1)

The song of Mary in this chapter is called "The Magnificat".

Last December I stood in downtown Edmonton in a mixed crowd huddling from the wind as we read this passage out loud together. It was part of "Occupy Advent". We stood outside the fenced off and empty lot where Occupy Edmonton had lived and shared community for forty days before being forcibly evicted by the landowners and fenced off from use by anyone. The words of this song resonated strongly with us that night.

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The Magnificat

Luke 1:46-55 (ESV)

⁴⁶ And Mary said,

“My soul magnifies the Lord,
⁴⁷      and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour,
⁴⁸ for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.
    For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
⁴⁹ for he who is mighty has done great things for me,
    and holy is his name.
⁵⁰ And his mercy is for those who fear him
    from generation to generation.
⁵¹  He has shown strength with his arm;
     he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;
⁵²  he has brought down the mighty from their thrones
     and exalted those of humble estate;
⁵³ he has filled the hungry with good things,
    and the rich he has sent away empty.
⁵⁴ He has helped his servant Israel,
     in remembrance of his mercy,
⁵⁵  as he spoke to our fathers,
     to Abraham and to his offspring for ever.”