MARY’S REVOLUTIONARY CAROL Penge Baptist Church 24th December 2013 Jesus came to bring “Good News to the Poor”

Luke 1:46-55 And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me— holy is his name. His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble.

He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, even as he said to our fathers.”

God’s blessings for Mary – and for all humanity…. God rewards humility ‘he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant’ God gives generously to those who serve him ‘the Mighty One has done great things for me’ Not just to Mary but to all who trust ‘His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation’

….reversing the social order based on power and wealth…. In global politics…. he has performed mighty deeds with his arm…He has brought down rulers from their thrones …and for each individual he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.… has sent the rich away empty. …[he] has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things….

….and he is faithful to his promises He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, even as he said to our fathers. “I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.” (Genesis 22:17-18)

Our call to be humble servants like Mary, made in God’s image To ‘fill the hungry with good things’ so ‘your kingdom come, your will be done’ – the Jesus revolution! Psalm 146:5-9 Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord their God. He is the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them—he remains faithful forever. He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets prisoners free, the Lord gives sight to the blind, the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down, the Lord loves the righteous. The Lord watches over the foreigner and sustains the fatherless and the widow…

To bring hope in God’s name… For the wronged: ‘he upholds the cause of the oppressed’ For the poor: ‘gives food to the hungry’ For the prisoners: ‘the Lord sets prisoners free’ For the disabled: ‘the Lord gives sight to the blind’ For the marginalised: ‘the Lord watches over the alien’ For the bereaved: ‘and sustains the fatherless and the widow’

…and to worship our Saviour, born in Bethlehem ‘My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior’