Luke 1:46-48 - Homilies By W. Clarkson

The voice of praise.

This "improvisation of a happy faith" is not more musical to the ear than it is beautiful to our spiritual discernment. It presents to us the mother of our Lord in a most pleasing light. We will look at these words of devout gratitude as—

I. MARY 'S RESPONSE to God's distinguishing goodness to her. She received from God a kindness that was:

1 . Necessarily unique. Only to one of the daughters of men could be granted the peculiar honor conferred on her. We are naturally and properly affected by mercies which speak of God's distinguishing goodness to us.

2 . Fitted to fill her heart with abounding joy. She was to become a mother, and the mother of One who should render to his people services of surpassing value; no wonder that her "spirit rejoiced" in such a prospect.

3 . Calculated to call forth all that was highest and worthiest in her nature . She would have to cherish and to rear, to teach and to train, that illustrious Son who should call her "mother."

4 . Certain to confer, upon her, an honorable immortality . All generations would call her blessed.

5 . Rendered to one who could not have expected it . God had stooped low to bless, even to the low estate of "his bondmaiden." And, impressed with this wonderful and unanticipated goodness, she poured forth her gladness in a song of holy gratitude, of lofty praise. Such should be—

II. OUR APPRECIATION of God's abounding kindness to ourselves.

1 . The indebtedness under which our heavenly Father has laid us. It is, indeed, as different as possible from that which inspired this sacred lyric. Yet may we most reverently and most becomingly take the words of Mary into our lips—both the utterance of felt obligation and the language of praise. For:

2 . The response we should make to our Father.