Conforming (phase 2), God Prepares a Way for Our Salvation - The Mystery of the Incarnation (step 8), Session 3

The Magnificat

He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. - Lk 1, 51b (RSV, NKJV)

I love reading different translations of familiar scripture passages. I imagine that Mary's canticle has been set to music more often than any other New Testament passage, and while it may be most cherished in Catholic circles, other Christian denominations also treasure this passage as a wonderful model of unbridled praise and worship. I have personally sung at least a half-dozen arrangements, and written one as well (though a friend recently pointed out that my chord progression was heavily influenced by Styx). I have prayed it as part of evening prayer on many occasions.

Here are some other translations of this verse with which I was familiar:

• (he has) dispersed the arrogant of mind and heart. (NAB)
• he has routed the arrogant of heart. (NJB)
• he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.  (NIV)
• he hath scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart. (Douay-Rheims)

Because of my experience with this canticle of praise, I really expected no new revelation this morning from this familiar passage. You'd think I'd know better by now.  As he has done from the beginning, God once again breathes new life through his Word. This idea of the proud (of which I have too often been a member) and the "imagination of their hearts" really resonates with me. So often I imagine myself as more than - more accurately, something different from what - I really am, to the detriment of those around me and also of all that I am and am called to be.  

Isn't it strange that the greatest self-concept that our pride conjures up in the imagination of our hearts can never be so great as the true self into which God calls us to grow? Isn't it odd that the bliss we imagine could be ours and for which we pine fails to approach the joy which is already ours for the living?

(Okay, this next paragraph should be read with an exclamation point at the end of every sentence, but I hate it when people write that way . . . )

Now, to focus too much on this particular verse is to miss this great canticle's whole point. God is so much greater than both our biggest imagining and our greatest failure. He has already blessed us so abundantly, with boundless love past and present, with comfort in the midst of great heartache, with joy beyond telling, with wonder and awe at the marvels of this world, all of which are a foretaste of all that he has in store for us. God's greatness can be seen both in what he has done for us and in what he has promised to do, and as we have lately discussed in this context, God keeps every promise and makes possible that which we cannot even imagine.

This great proclamation of praise offers us so much to consider about God's great glory.  I've intentionally begun this session today so that I might have time to reflect on it another day; more to come . . .