This Sunday is the 4th and last Sunday of Advent. The fourth candle symbolizes peace. On Sunday, we will here the story of Mary and her cousin Elizabeth who is the mother of John the Baptist. The reading from the 1st chapter of Luke ends with what is known as Mary’s Magnificat. Magnificat translates to “My soul magnifies the Lord.” I find it miraculous that a young woman like Mary would find herself in this position willingly. Not only that, but she is praising God!

Her are Mary’s words from one of my new favorite translations of the Bible, The Message:

I'm dancing the song of my Savior God.
God took one good look at me and look what happened - I'm the most fortunate woman on earth!
What God has done for me will never be forgotten, the God whose very name is holy, set apart from all others.
His mercy flows in wave after wave on those who are in awe before him.
He bared his arm and showed his strength, scattered the bluffing braggarts.
He knocked tyrants off their high horses, pulled victims out of the mud.
The starving poor sat down to a banquet; the callous rich were left out in the cold.
He embraced his chosen child, Israel; he remembered and piled on the mercies, piled them high.
It's exactly what he promised, beginning with Abraham and right up to now.

See you Sunday!