“My soul glorifies the Lord
47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48 for he has been mindful
of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
holy is his name.
50 His mercy extends to those who fear him,
from generation to generation.
51 He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones
but has lifted up the humble.
53 He has filled the hungry with good things
but has sent the rich away empty.
54 He has helped his servant Israel,
remembering to be merciful
55 to Abraham and his descendants forever,
just as he promised our ancestors.”
Luke 1:46-55
Our Scottish Baptist College Christmas service centred on ‘Mary’s Song’ from Luke 1 and the Christian Aid ‘What-if-ity’ Nativity script (you can download the script here). The script poses ‘What if’ questions about the familiar Christmas story: “What if each of the participants in that first nativity, the birth of Christ, had made a different choice? What would the consequences have been? What if Mary had said no? What if Joseph had rejected Mary? What if the Magi hadn’t gone by another way?” Bringing Mary’s Song and the ‘What-if-ity’ together sparked a train of thoughts and prayers for me.
Lord, what if this Christmas…?
What if the proud could be humbled and the humble could be raised up?
What if the strong could be made weak and the weak could be made strong?
What if the bullies could be beaten and the beaten could become victors?
What if the rich could give what they hoard and the poor could receive what they need?
What if the mighty could be brought low and the meek be lifted high?
Lord may the ‘what if?’ become the ‘what is.’ May the humble be raised up.
Lord may the ‘what if?’ become the ‘what is.’ May the weak be made strong.
Lord may the ‘what if?’ become the ‘what is.’ May the beaten become the victors.
Lord may the ‘what if?’ become the ‘what is.’ May the poor receive what they need.
Lord may the ‘what if?’ become the ‘what is.’ May the meek be lifted high.
Lord, what if this Christmas made a difference?