Episode 1084
How Do We Live Mary’s Magnificat Today? (Luke 1:46–55)
The podcast delves into the profound theme of mercy as articulated in the biblical text known as Mary's song, or the Magnificat. This scripture reveals Mary's exuberance in celebrating the divine interventions that elevate the marginalized while diminishing the powerful. The speaker emphasizes that true faith encompasses a commitment to social justice and an acknowledgment of those whom history has often overlooked. By positioning Mary as a theologian and a voice for the oppressed, the discussion urges listeners to consider the implications of her song in contemporary contexts, advocating for the elevation of women and marginalized communities within faith traditions and beyond. The speaker articulates a challenging call to action, encouraging individuals to engage in practical acts of generosity and solidarity, thereby embodying the transformative message of the text. Furthermore, the podcast encourages listeners to reflect on their own positions within societal hierarchies, urging them to seek avenues for redistributing power and resources, thereby fostering a community where mercy reigns and every voice is heard.
Takeaways:
- The podcast emphasizes the importance of centering faith on the voices of marginalized individuals, highlighting that Mary serves as the first theologian of Christmas.
- It asserts that God's mercy is fundamentally social, transcending mere sentimentality to enact tangible changes in society, such as food security and fair wages.
- Listeners are urged to practice magnificent reversals in their lives, redistributing resources from those who do not need them to those who are in dire need.
- The conversation encourages active participation in justice by taking concrete actions, such as supporting food pantries or advocating for equitable policies in one's community.
- The episode illustrates that mercy, as expressed in Mary's song, encompasses both personal piety and a commitment to public justice and social change.
- Finally, the podcast invites listeners to consider their own role in creating a community where mercy flows abundantly and power is shared equitably.
Links referenced in this episode:
The "Daily Bible Refresh" is presented each day by Rev. Dr. Brad Miller who has a goal of speaking a bit of the bible into two million ears (one million people) in three years (2025-2028).
He is the author of "The A, B, C-1,2,3 Bible Study Guide" Free to you by clicking HERE.
Brad served as a local church pastor for forty years and has a background in radio and podcasting. Moreover, he is a life-long student of The Bible.
He believes in the words of Jesus that “scripture is fulfilled in your hearing” (Luke 4:21)
The "Daily Bible Refresh" is available seven days a week by 6:00 am ET. The episodes are no longer than ten minutes long and are...
- Understandable: A reading from the New Testament (usually the Gospel) selected from the Revised Common Lectionary using "The Message" translation.
- Relatable: You will have a couple of "points to ponder" from the text which will relate to your life
- Applicable: Every episode includes a way you can take action based on the reading
- A recommended resource to help you go deeper in biblical study and spiritual direction.
- A prayer for your day.
A companion resource to the Voice of God Daily Podcast is the “ABC Bible Study Guide” available by clicking HERE.
The "Daily Bible Refresh" is available every day at VoiceofGodDaily.com on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and all major podcast directories.
You can help Dr. Brad attain his goal of getting a bit of the bible into two million ears by subscribing to "Daily Bible Refresh" on Apple Podcasts, leaving a five-star rating, and writing a review. More importantly please share with your network of family and friends about the "Daily Bible Refresh".
Please make listening to the "Daily Bible Refresh" a part of your daily life.
Remember… “All scripture is God-breathed and useful”(2 Timothy 3:16)
Transcript
Hello my friend Dr. Brad Miller here with the Daily Bible Refresh.
Speaker A:This is your daily reading of the Bible from a progressive point of view.
Speaker A:In a bit I will read the New Testament lessons selected from the Revised Common Lectionary for this very day.
Speaker A:The reading is understandable.
Speaker A:I use the message version relatable.
Speaker A:Please listen to the points to ponder and applicable with action steps you can take.
Speaker A:We pray and are done in less than 10 minutes.
Speaker A:It's all brought to you by voiceofgoddaily.com which is the home of your free personal Bible Study Guide, the ABC1, 23 Bible Study Method.
Speaker A: lionaires a million people by: Speaker A:You can help by saving and subscribing to the podcast and tagging your friends.
Speaker A:Here's today's reading and we're reading today.
Speaker B:From the gospel of Luke 1:46 55 from the Message and Mary said I'm bursting with God news.
Speaker B:I'm dancing the song of my Savior.
Speaker B:God.
Speaker B:God took one good look at me and look what happened.
Speaker B:I'm the most fortunate woman on earth.
Speaker B:What God has done for me will never be forgotten.
Speaker B:The God whose very name is holy, set apart from all others.
Speaker B:His mercy flows in wave after wave on those who are in awe before him.
Speaker B:He bared his arm and showed his strength, scattered the bluffing braggarts.
Speaker B:He knocked tyrants off their high horses pulled victims out of the mud.
Speaker B:The starving poor sat down to a banquet.
Speaker B:The callous rich were left out in the cold.
Speaker B:He embraced his chosen child.
Speaker B:Israel, he remembered and piled on mercies, piled them high is exactly what he promised, beginning with Abraham and right up to right now.
Speaker B:That ends the reading.
Speaker B:Thank you friend for joining me in this conversation about this important scripture.
Speaker B:Our reading is today is Mary's song, sometimes called the Magnificent.
Speaker B:And it just says that Mary's bursting with God news and some might say good news that they both are true.
Speaker B:Because it's singing about the mercy that comes in waves and how tyrants are knocked off their high horses and the poor are seated at the banquet.
Speaker B:It takes the high and brings them down and takes the low and brings them up and God piling on the mercies just as he promised.
Speaker B:This isn't some quiet lullaby.
Speaker B:It's a song sung out strong and loud and sung by a young woman who is the highest of hopes, hopes that are bigger than her fears.
Speaker B:Let's consider three teaching points or points to ponder.
Speaker B:First is that Mary centers on a faith led by Women and the marginalized.
Speaker B:The first theologian of Christmas, my friends, is Mary Young, poor and courageously vocal.
Speaker B:Progressive faith listens to the voices that history sidelines and treats their testimony as primary, not optional.
Speaker B:If Mary's song leads us, our churches and communities must elevate women, LGBTQ siblings, black and brown, and any leaders of color, immigrants and workers, not as tokens but as co architects of the table.
Speaker B:Another point to ponder is God's mercy is social, not just sentimental.
Speaker B:It says he knocked tyrants off their high horses.
Speaker B:Did you get that?
Speaker B:And also says the starving poor sat down at the banquet.
Speaker B:They were lifted up.
Speaker B:Mercy in Mary's mouth looks like material change.
Speaker B:That is food security, fair wages, fair and safe housing, access to health care for all, and also demoted arrogance.
Speaker B:Progressive discipleship refuses the split between personal piety and public justice.
Speaker B:We pray and we organize and we sing and we show up.
Speaker B:One more point to ponder.
Speaker B:Reversal is good news for everyone willing to share power.
Speaker B:That is.
Speaker B:The magnificent reversals aren't about revenge, they're about repair.
Speaker B:The callous rich, it says here, are left out in the cold because hoarded abundance isolates.
Speaker B:The invitation is to step out of hoarding into solidarity, redistributing resources and decision making so all can feast.
Speaker B:That's how God's promises become visible.
Speaker B:Right now I'd like for you to consider an action step regarding this scripture.
Speaker B:Practice a magnificent reversal just like Mary did.
Speaker B:Pick some small, concrete way to move resources or power from those who really don't need it as much to those who do need it the most, such as an area of food.
Speaker B:Make a contribution monetarily or food or time or service to a food pantry, or deliver a meal for a service organization or to give a ride to someone who needs cancer treatment or something of that nature.
Speaker B:The area of voice.
Speaker B:Pass the mic to someone who needs it.
Speaker B:That is, if you have some position of influence.
Speaker B:Invite someone who is marginalized to speak up, to lead a meeting, to be involved, to be engaged, to be a part of the conversation, to be a part of decision making publicly and policy.
Speaker B:Email call.
Speaker B:Write your representatives about expanding access to needs such as mental health care, health care in general, or fair housing or even hunger relief in your area.
Speaker B:It's there.
Speaker B:You know it's there.
Speaker B:You can do something about it.
Speaker B:Then there's the area presence.
Speaker B:Take a listening walk around your neighborhood.
Speaker B:Take someone else with you.
Speaker B:Yeah, it could be a walk around your neighborhood.
Speaker B:The business is there.
Speaker B:It could be a walk in the woods.
Speaker B:But ask what would it feel like to really experience mercy this week or to give mercy this week, then do something about it.
Speaker B:We're going to come back and have a prayer to end things here today in just a minute.
Speaker B:Then once you know, we've got a resource for you.
Speaker B:That's your own biblical studies at home.
Speaker B:It's called the ABC 123 Bible Study Method.
Speaker B:It's for free for you at our website, voiceofgoddaily.com let's pray God who piles on mercies, teach us to sing Mary's song with our lives.
Speaker B:Topple the arrogance in us and around us.
Speaker B:Seat the hungry at real tables and move us from sentiment to solidarity.
Speaker B:Be near to patients and caregivers, to those exhausted by bills and paperwork, to night shift workers and young parents, to anyone standing out in the cold.
Speaker B:Meet us in the hospital rooms and corridors and in cheers and in family group chants.
Speaker B:Be with us as we experience the laughter of little children and make our communities places where mercy flows in wave after wave, where power is shared and joy is stubborn.
Speaker B:Keep your promise through us, beginning right now.
Speaker B:Amen.
Speaker A:My friend, I am delighted you chose to join me for today's reading.
Speaker A:The Daily Bible Refresh is completely listener supported.
Speaker A:Your gift goes a long way to getting the audible word of God from a progressive perspective into 2 million ears.
Speaker A: A million people people by: Speaker A:I would be so grateful if you would go to voiceofgodddaily.com and share your gift of any amount.
Speaker A:Thanks much.
Speaker A:My name is Dr. Brad Miller and I'll be right here tomorrow with your Daily Bible Refresh.
Speaker A:Please subscribe and tag your friends until tomorrow.
Speaker A:Remember, God's loyal love doesn't run out.
Speaker A:His merciful love.
Speaker A:Love hasn't dried up, it's created new every morning.
