Third Sunday of Advent, 2025
Psalms 145:1-3
A psalm of praise. Of David.
1 I will exalt you, my God the King;
I will praise your name for ever and ever.
2 Every day I will praise you
and extol your name for ever and ever.
3 Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise;
his greatness no one can fathom.
Luke 1:46-55 46 And Mary said:
“My soul glorifies the Lord
47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48 for he has been mindful
of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
holy is his name.
50 His mercy extends to those who fear him,
from generation to generation.
51 He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones
but has lifted up the humble.
53 He has filled the hungry with good things
but has sent the rich away empty.
54 He has helped his servant Israel,
remembering to be merciful
55 to Abraham and his descendants forever,
just as he promised our ancestors.
In today’s Advent reading we find both Mary’s Magnificat and David’s psalm of never-ending praise. While David penned his psalm near the end of his life, Mary was a young teenager, just beginning her life. Yet, the wisdom and eloquence found in Mary’s words are in every way as powerful David’s.
Mary’s praise is both personal and universal. She recognizes what carrying the Son of God means both to her and to her people. She understands by elevating a young girl of no social significance that God has begun a new work in mankind, and she is in awe.
May we be in awe today as we approach another Christmas celebration of God’s goodness in in sending His Son into our midst at just the right time, and may we continue to look forward to His Second coming which will likewise be at just the right time.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Seeking Holiness 