Mary’s praises are the crown of the psalms of the Old Testament and a glorious beginning of all the joys of the New Testament. The Holy Spirit spoke through Mary and revealed the secrets of God’s judgment in the simple words of the Virgin. The past of mankind met in these words. Our future is clarified through the words of the Holy Spirit, and God’s church harmonizes everywhere in Mary’s song of thankfulness, for the aim of all the revelation and realization of salvation is to glorify the holy God out of an undivided heart.
Mary’s words, which reached us in the New Testament, were very few (Luke 1:34,38; 2:48; John 2:3,5). This is why her saying here deserves all our attention, wherein we find familiar statements from the Old Testament and the Psalms which indicates that the Virgin penetrated deeply into the word of her Lord, kept his verses and lived them. The Holy Spirit united the treasures hidden in them for great praise to God.
Do you hear the voice of the Holy Spirit? He glorifies God and declares that man is small. The joy of the knowledge of God is so great. The peace of God covers the believer so that his soul does not move haughtily but glorifies the Lord. As such the spirit rejoices, for the pleasure of God is revealed to it and no sorrow disturbs it. Do you rejoice in your mind? Are you sad? He who is sad cares for himself, but he who is glad lives for God and becomes free from his selfishness, for God is love and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.
Dear brother, come to your Lord so that he may fill you with his Spirit. The Holy Spirit is not found in man out of his nature. Mary confessed openly that God was her Savior from her distresses. Mary is not the Savior of the world. God has saved the mother of Jesus. The Holy Spirit does not lie. All those who magnify themselves and other selves are foolish; for the heavenly Illuminator shows us corruption in our humanity and at the same time draws us up to the faithful love of God.
We are not worthy to be called servants of God, for we are sinners. However, the Holy Spirit confirms to us that the Lord accepted us and overcame the sin inherited in us by grace. All those that are highly favored bow down to the dust, worship to their Savior, kiss his feet, and put themselves at his disposal for everlasting service. Are you an independent master and lord in your life, or a lowly servant to your Lord? Humble yourself as Mary who called herself the maidservant of the Lord. The Holy Spirit wants to break your pride and release yourself from haughtiness.
Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted. Mary experienced this principle of the Spirit of God, for when she had confessed her need to God’s salvation as the maidservant of the Lord, God exalted her so that she might receive joy for joy and grace for grace.
Yet, her way in this world was full of bitterness, despise, and accusation, for her fiancé and parents knew nothing about her conception of the Holy Spirit. But God himself justified and guided her (Matthew 1:18). Her child was born in an awful stable, while the angels’ storm of praises broke out in heaven. The Magi worshiped to the newborn child of the manger who fled after a while with his parents to Egypt. Mary stood sorrowfully under the cross of her son. Yet, she saw him who was raised from the dead prevailing and ruling the worlds. She remained together with the disciples expecting the promise of the Father and was filled with them with the Holy Spirit of God on the Day of Pentecost. She abided in Christ forever, for he who believes in him, though he may die, he shall live; and all those living who believe in him shall never die. We beatify Mary with all those renewed in Christ, for they live as children of God in everlasting gladness.
Dear brother, can you pronounce Mary’s words in faith? Dare and pronounce in faith the words of the Holy Spirit: "He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name. And His mercy is on those who fear Him from generation to generation" (1:49).
Mary did not take lessons in theology, but the Holy Spirit revealed to her the essence of God as merciful and holy according to her own experiences. Would that all the nations accept this revelation of the Holy Spirit from the Virgin’s mouth. Our God is like a consuming fire, which burns all sins and unrepentant humans. Yet, the heart of his holiness is love and nothing but love. He who follows the right way and submits to the Spirit of God accepting Christ as a Savior, will be drawn to the holiness of God’s love, for Christ’s birth had no other design but to make of you a saint filled with the love of God (Romans 5:5; Ephesians 1:4).