This week we begin the season of Advent by focusing on the thought of hope.  Our 2009 Advent theme is “The Songs of Christmas,” and each week we’ll be looking at a song from the gospel of Luke surrounding the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ.  Our song this week comes from Luke 1:46-55.  This is Mary’s song, the mother of Jesus:

⁴⁶ And Mary said:  “My soul exalts the Lord,

⁴⁷ And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.

⁴⁸ “For He has had regard for the humble state of His bondslave; For behold, from this time on all generations will count me blessed.

⁴⁹ “For the Mighty One has done great things for me; And holy is His name.

⁵⁰ “and His mercy is upon generation after generation Toward those who fear Him.

⁵¹ “He has done mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered those who were proud in the thoughts of their heart.

⁵² “He has brought down rulers from their thrones, and has exalted those who were humble.

⁵³ “He has filled the hungry with good things; And sent away the rich empty-handed.

⁵⁴ “He has given help to Israel His servant, In remembrance of His mercy,

⁵⁵ As He spoke to our fathers, To Abraham and his descendants forever.”

This week we focus on the hope of Christ.  This song that Mary sang came in response to her visit with Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist.  When Mary entered the room where Elizabeth was, John, who was still in Elizabeth’s womb, jump for joy, and Elizabeth began to prophecy, “And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what had been spoken to her by the Lord.”  Indeed, Mary was blessed.  She would be used by God to bring forth the Messiah, the Christ, who had long been promised to Israel and to the entire world.  She knew that growing in her womb was her only hope and the only hope for the entire world.  In the knowledge of the hope to come, she overflowed with song from her heart, and her soul exalted the Lord.  This Advent season, may we be overwhelmed by the hope that is found in Christ.  We know that He is the only savior yesterday, today, and forever.  May we with Mary exalt the Lord!