Luke 1:46-55

And Mary said,

“My soul magnifies the Lord,
    and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has looked with favor on the lowly state of his servant.
    Surely from now on all generations will call me blessed,
for the Mighty One has done great things for me,
    and holy is his name;
indeed, his mercy is for those who fear him
    from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with his arm;
    he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
He has brought down the powerful from their thrones
    and lifted up the lowly;
he has filled the hungry with good things
    and sent the rich away empty.
He has come to the aid of his child Israel,
    in remembrance of his mercy,
according to the promise he made to our ancestors,
    to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”

In "The Magnificat," Mary describes what it means to be an advocate for compassionate justice. When I read her words I see echoes of the message that her son will preach, especially in the Sermon on the Mount:

• He has scattered those who were proud in the thoughts of their heart
• He has brought down rulers from their thrones and exalted those who were humble
• He has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty-handed

This message begins with the prophets in the Old Testament who over and over again call for justice at the level of social systems. It continues here through the words of Mary that praise God for God’s work in the world through her as she sings of the same justice that the prophets called for. And it continues in the words of her son Jesus as he will call for the same kind of justice during his ministry and will then be crucified by those in power who don’t want the social systems to change - because they benefit from the inequality.

It is no different now. 

Peacemakers are advocates for compassionate justice. 

In order to be Peacemakers we need to believe two very important things: 

• That God is sovereign.  
• And  that God’s Kingdom is one of justice for the oppressed and marginalized within human societies. 

As we move through these last days of Advent and welcome Jesus into the world and our hearts, may we remember this call for compassionate justice, this call for the oppressed and marginalized, this call to be Peacemakers, this call to change unjust social systems, this call to bring God’s Kingdom to Earth as it is in Heaven. 

-- Bridgete Decker, laity
Central UMC, Kansas City, Kansas
bb.decker230230@gmail.com

Prayer for Reflection

Isaiah 7:10-16
Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19
Romans 1:1-7
Matthew 1:18-25