Magnificat

My annual posting of Mary's Magnificat... Mary, the one who raised and taught Jesus and his brother (half-brother, if you prefer), James. Mary, the poor and lowly Jewish teen being raised in an oppressive land by powerful men who didn't care what happened to the poor and so-called "lowly..." Mary's words:

"My spirit celebrates God, my Liberator!

For though I’m God’s humble servant,

God has noticed me.

Now and forever,

I will be considered blessed by all generations.

For the Mighty One has done great things for me;

holy is God’s name!

From generation to generation,

God’s lovingkindness endures

for those who revere God.

God’s arm has accomplished mighty deeds.

The proud in mind and heart,

God has sent away in disarray.

The rulers from their high positions of power,

God has brought down low.

And those who were humble and lowly,

God has elevated with dignity.

The hungry—God has filled with fine food.

The rich—God has dismissed with nothing in their hands."

And then, there are the words of her first-born, Jesus:

Jesus, who learned these lessons from his mother, had this to say:
"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because
God has anointed me to bring good news to the poor.
God has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and
recovery of sight to the blind,
to let the oppressed go free,
to proclaim the year of God’s Jubilee."

"Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the beloved community of God.
Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you will be filled.
Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh...
But woe to you who are rich,
for you have already received your comfort.
Woe to you who are well fed now,
for you will go hungry.

Woe to you who laugh now,
for you will mourn and weep."

"Come, you that are blessed by God,
inherit the realm prepared for you from the foundation of the world;
for I was hungry and you gave me food,
I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink,
I was a stranger and you welcomed me,
I was naked and you gave me clothing,
I was sick and you took care of me,
I was in prison and you visited me."

(and also: Depart from me! All you who did none of that!)

Jesus, speaking to the rich young ruler and loving him, according to the text, said:
"You lack one thing; go, sell what you own,
and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven;
then come, follow me.’

And when the rich man heard this,
he was shocked and went away grieving, for he had many possessions."

"When you give a luncheon or a dinner,
do not invite your friends or your brothers
or your relatives or rich neighbors,
in case they may invite you in return, and you would be repaid.

But when you give a banquet,
invite the poor,
those with disabilities,
the lame, and the blind.
And you will be blessed"

Etc. Jesus learned well from Mother Mary.

+++++

And then, from one of her other sons, James:

"My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?

Listen, my dear brothers and sisters:

Has not God chosen those who are
poor in the eyes of the world
to be rich in faith and to inherit the realm God promised those who love
But you have dishonored the poor.

Is it not the rich who are exploiting you?
Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court?Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of the One
to whom you belong?"

and...

"Now listen, you rich people,
weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you.
Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes.
Your gold and silver are corroded.
Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire.
You have hoarded wealth in the last days.

Look! The wages you
failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields
are crying out against you.
The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of God Almighty.
You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence.
You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter.
You rich and powerful ones have condemned and murdered the innocent one
(Jesus),
who was not opposing you."*

What a family!

* As an aside, it may be viewed by some that Jesus and his family were hateful towards the rich, but I don't think that's it. I think God loves all of humanity. But those concerned with human rights and the beloved community ARE going to be opposed to those who abuse human rights... who oppress the poor and marginalized. But that doesn't translate, I don't think, into hate for the oppressor.

Those who oppress are not only harming the oppressed. As we find in other teachings from Jesus, the love of money is the root of all sorts of evil. Having excessive wealth and power, that is a trap and quite often a cancer that destroys both the rich and those they oppressed. When James says that Jesus was not opposing the rich oppressors, I think it's obvious that Jesus (and all who oppose oppression) DO oppose oppression. But, as we see with the Rich Young Man story and the story of Zaccheus (another wealthy oppressor), the rich were ALSO invited to join the beloved community, the welcoming dinner table... it's just that they were also invited to abandon that wealth which oppressed, as well.

Seems to me. If a person falls into an ocean with loads of gold and jewels in their pockets, the first thing they need to do to be saved is to let go of that which was weighing them down.

Happy, holy days.