In a loud voice she exclaimed: "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?"
Luke 1:42-43
Someone believed Mary. What she had heard from the angel was a dangerous message. But her cousin Elizabeth believed her and even called her child "my Lord". In a time when Rome was occupying their country and Herod was in charge, called someone else Lord was a rebellious act.
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, just as he promised our ancestors."
Luke 1:46-55
Mary's prayer, called The Magnificat, is a bold and courageous declaration. It would have been considered an act of rebellion to proclaim there was another king who would bring down rulers. Mary is announcing a revolution!
King Herod was building an "empire of more".
DISCUSSION:
In what ways was Herod building an empire of more?
Greg said that we are living in an empire of more today? In what ways are we living for an empire of more now?
"The empire of more will constantly manipulate you". How is this true in your life? What do you need to do to counteract this?
"I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances."
Philippians 4:11b
What are we teaching our children in this empire of more? Are we teaching them that more is better?
DISCUSSION:
How can we "learn to be content"?
Where is it tempting for you to be a consumer, to over-indulge?
In what ways do you see judging and criticizing to be a distraction in our culture? What about for you personally?
What if we vowed to not be consumeristic in how we live our lives: when it comes to position, demanding our own way, being the center of attention, desiring what others have instead of learning to be content....?
Jesus is King. You are loved by the God of the universe? How should that impact your life and how you live daily?
"From dopamine's perspective, having things is uninteresting. It's only getting things that matter."
from The Molecule of More
Reflect
In what ways do you need to spend less: less money, less time, less energy? What do you need to do to learn to be content?