Lifting Up the Lowly

Isaiah 35:1-10, Luke 1:47-55

Our Isaiah passage is a poetic oracle of promise. All that is less than whole as God intended will be reversed in a new age. The weak and fearful will be strengthened. Nature will be reversed. Those with disabilities: the blind, the deaf, and the lame will be given new abilities. It ends with the image of a holy highway to bring the exiles through the wilderness to Zion.

In our Luke passage we have Mary speaking under a prophetic pulse. This prayer of Thanksgiving contains the themes of God’s concern for the lowly, hungry, and disadvantaged. A very humble Mary states that God has looked with favor on the lowliness of God’s servant. No wonder she mentions that God has lifted up the lowly.

Isaiah spoke about the lowly mentioning the blind, deaf, and lame. These are people considered outcasts in society. He tells how God will come and save them overturning their disabilities.

Mary is in some ways repeating Isaiah’s prophecy saying that the time the Jews awaited in Isaiah’s time has come. God has come to the aid of the children of Israel, remembering God’s mercy. This is all according to the promises God made to their ancestors - to Abraham and his descendants – including Isaiah. The promises Isaiah and the other prophets foretold are coming true.

Lifting up the lowly is one thing Mary is rejoicing about. The everlasting joy Isaiah told of is definitely upon her head. She has obtained joy and gladness. Now Mary was probably considered to be an unwed mother who had to get married. So, she was truly considered lowly in her society and perhaps she had some sorrow over this. It definitely disappeared when she visited Elizabeth who remarks upon seeing her that the baby leaped for joy within her. So, joy was going around even for John the Baptist in Elizabeth’s womb.

May we rejoice in the words of Isaiah and Mary. If we ever feel lowly or insignificant God can raise us up, taking away the sadness and filling us with joy and gladness. Amen.

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