Today we continue the season of Advent, which is an ancient tradition of the church that helps to prepare our hearts for Christmas.  Our Advent theme this year is “Magnificat” which means to magnify or highly praise the Lord and is what we commonly call the song Jesus’ mother, Mary, sang in Luke 1.

Today we light the Candle of Peace and take our Scripture from Luke 1:49–50, for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. ⁵⁰ And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.

Scripture reveals to us over and over again the truth that God is mighty.  From creation to the flood to the parting the Red Sea to protecting the lives of Daniel and his three friends in Babylon and so much more, God has shown that He is indeed mighty throughout history.  He has done many amazing things.

But, here as Mary sings, she doesn’t just focus in on what God in His might has done in history in general.  She focuses in on what God had personally done for her:  for he who is mighty has done great things for me.  One of the greatest things that God ever did for Mary was to send Jesus to this earth to die and pay for her sins so that she might have peace with God.  In doing so, God displayed both His holiness and mercy, which Mary sings about here.

And God has done the same thing for us in Jesus Christ.  You see, Jesus is our “peace child,” removing the enmity between God and every person who will repent and believe on Jesus.  What a great thing God in His might has done for you!

And so, we light the Candle of Peace.  This Christmas season, may we experience peace with God and magnify the Lord.

From our family to yours:  Merry Christmas!  And praise to God in the highest!

(Light the 2^nd purple candle)