In Viktor E. Frankl’s book, Man’s Search for Meaning, he tells a story that illustrates how God shows up in the strangest and most unexpected ways. Frankl was a prisoner in a Nazi concentration camp during World War II. He tells of how he and some other prisoners were moved on a work detail from Auschwitz to a Bavarian work camp.
“One evening when we were already resting on the floor of our hut, dead tired, soup bowls in hand, a fellow prisoner rushed in and asked us to run out to the assembly grounds and see the wonderful sunset. Standing outside we saw sinister clouds glowing in the west and the whole sky alive with clouds of ever-changing shapes and colors, from steel blue to blood red. The desolate gray mud huts provided a sharp contrast, while the puddles on the muddy ground reflected the glowing sky. Then, after minutes of moving silence, one prisoner said to another. “How beautiful the world could be!”
Even amid death and dying, through a sunset, God reminded a group of prisoners not to give up hope, for indeed the world could be beautiful.
This is Luke’s message in relating the story of Mary’s visit to Elizabeth. Elizabeth and Mary’s lives were full of trouble, but Mary’s visit is filled with encouragement and joy. Despite their many troubles, their faith allowed them to see that God had not abandoned them but was working in them to bring new life into the world, making the world beautiful.
In first-century Judea, during the December darkness, people were shut up in their darkened houses for fear of Roman soldiers. The streets were deserted and fearfully quiet. There, in the dark silence of fear and hopelessness, a pure, clear, feminine voice cuts through the night, “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, …for the Mighty One has done great things for me – holy is his name. His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation.”
We usually encounter Mary’s song of praise, called the Magnificat, only during the Christmas season. We joyfully listen to the beautiful music and picture in our minds a simple young peasant girl in blue and white, surrounded by celestial blue light, with her hands clasped under her chin, looking prayerfully up into heaven and singing. We intently listen to the beautiful music, but seldom do we listen to the words.
We need to erase that picture from our imagination, silence the music, and listen to the words. I know that Luke did not pen these words to make beautiful music for our ears, he penned them because he had a message that he wants us to hear. So, I urge you to listen carefully to the strong emotion-filled words and think about God. Mary’s Song declares that God is in the thick of things, that God is bringing about a revolution.
“… He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he promised our ancestors.’” (Luke 1:46-55).
Mary’s Song is about the inbreaking of God’s Kingdom to which the whole Old Testament had been pointing. At that time, all existing order will be turned upside down. All present standards of success measurements will be reversed. An upside-down Kingdom will break open and over-rule the present worldly kingdom. Therefore we, along with Mary, celebrate the birth of Jesus at Christmas.
Mary’s Song is about God’s promise of justice for those who are treated unfairly, who are oppressed. But when, is our question. We look at the spreading unrighteousness in the world. We daily read the accounts of injustices, prejudices, racism, hatred, and political and religious divides and we say, “O God, how long?” We forget that God’s timing is different than ours.
Let us make no mistake about it, God is sovereign. He is on the heavenly throne and rules the universe with love and justice. Nothing escapes his notice. Every evil act of unrighteousness, every devilish act of greed and lying is seen, and every oppressor is judged by the sovereign God of righteous love, mercy, and justice.
God promises it. His created world of all nature and humanity will again be beautiful. The searching question for each of us is whether we are intentionally and actively helping to make it happen or not.
When Mary was invited by God’s angel to participate in his work of making the world beautiful, Mary questioned how, but then said, “I am the Lord’s servant. May your word to me be fulfilled.” (Luke 1:38).
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“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – September 15, 2021
Ray M. Geigley
Healing Rays of Righteousness 
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