By Joyce D. Sohl, Laywoman-in-Residence
Mary’s song is full of praise!
Praise to God for selecting her, a young poverty-stricken girl to bear the Savior;
Praise for all God’s mighty and wonderful acts for the people of Israel;
Praise for God’s amazing grace and promised salvation;
Praise to God who is worthy of her trust.
Mary’s song is about freedom!
Freedom for the poor, the forgotten, the oppressed;
Freedom for herself as she chooses to participate in God’s invitation into the unknown;
Freedom from the arrogance and power of the rich and mighty;
Freedom for all God’s children to receive God’s greatest gift.
Mary’s song is about justice!
Justice for the needy whose hunger will be satisfied,
Justice that is radical and reverses the power structures,
Justice that proclaims the power of God to make all new,
Justice that acknowledges that the humble servant can be raised up to serve God.
Mary’s song is filled with hope!
Hope in God’s continuous presence on her own journey,
Hope for her child and his role in changing the world,
Hope in God’s deliverance from oppression and poverty,
Hope for her own future and that of all God-fearing people.
May our souls magnify the Lord.
May our spirits rejoice in God our Savior.
May we sing Mary’s song as we once again await the coming of the Christ
(First published in Response. December 1998)
Joyce D. Sohl has been Laywoman-in-Residence since 2009 as a full-time volunteer. She retired as CEO of United Methodist Women in 2004. She is the author of 4 books, a teacher, retreat leader, writer and non-professional musician. Here at the Center her work is in the area of Spirituality & the Arts with such programs as Tuesdays in the Chapel, Vespers & All That Jazz, Poet’s Corner, and quarterly retreats and art exhibits.