Third Sunday of Advent – Dec. 14th, 2025

Mary’s Song of Praise

The readings for this Sunday are Isaiah 35:1-10, Psalm 146:4-9 or (Canticle 18 (Luke 1:47-55), James 5:7-10; Matthew 11:2-11.

We are half way through Advent, and this Sunday known as Gaudette Sunday, is often referred to rejoice or Joy Sunday.  

The alternative reading in place of the psalm for this Sunday is,  Canticle 18 (Luke 1:47-55).  We know it as the ‘Magnificat’ or Mary’s song. Mary, a young woman barely out of her teens chosen to bear the Christ Child, God’s own son. When she visits her cousin Elizabeth, who is up in age and also with child, when Mary greets her the child in Elizabeths womb leaps at her greeting, and Elizabeth exclaims, blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.“ It is here that we have received what we know as Mary’s song of Praise.  In it Mary proclaims, what she believes in her heart this child will do for her people.  Rejoicing at the prospect of what he would bring to the world she sings, “My Soul magnifies the Lord, and my Spirit rejoices in God my Saviour. For he has looked with favour on his lowly servant, from this day forward, all generations shall call me blessed.”  

Mary’s song have been sung in our churches, down through the years as a canticle during Evening song.  As a young girl growing up singing in the choir, we were taught to sing the ‘Magnificat’, as our choir director would say, with Gusto!  We were taught to sing it so heartedly that the words of Mary’s song, became so familiar it was almost as if they were our own.  We were singing for Mary, feeling the joy of what she must have felt at being chosen, but also the fear of what the immense responsibility placed on her to bear, must have felt to her.  Mary was no King’s daughter, with courtiers, and palace guards around her, but a young Jewish girl likely of meager means; for Mary to have claimed she was carrying the Son of God, would have been detrimental for her, but also as an unWed Mother at the time, and the stigma associated with that, she would have been shamed along with her family in the community. It wasn’t an idyllic situation for Mary, but one she bore with great strength, humility and courage, trusting always in her God. 

Advent reminds us of the courage of Mary, and what it means to be faithful in midst of the trials of our own lives, or as in the world today; standing firm in the face of adversity, confident in the promises of God. “He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.”  Mary with certainty in her heart as to what God was doing, put her whole trust in his grace even before it was ever realized.   “He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, lifted up the lowly; and filled the hungry with good things, while the rich he has sent empty away.”

Mary’s Vision was a vision of hope for her own time; but it is also for us, and advent invites us to join with her in rejoicing, that we too might envision as she did a more peaceful and just world for all; and take action to help make it so, in all the ways Jesus as taught us through the gospel.  

When John the Baptist was in prison and sent word by his disciples to ask if Jesus were truly the longed for Messiah of God, who was to come.  Jesus in answer didn’t send John any explanation of who he was, instead he said, “tell John what you see and hear: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them.”  In other words, the actions speak for themselves as to who Jesus was, and it is the same today.  When we live truly as he calls us to live, caring for the vulnerable and the weak in our world;  we too will know and feel Christ’s presence. You won’t have to convince anyone off it, because they will know it in what they see and hear; God’s  Kingdom reign coming about in our own time, in the justice that is seen, the hope that is given, the love that is shown, making way for a more peaceful world for all. This Sunday calls us to rejoice, in the promises of our God!

As we light the candle this third Sunday of Advent, we keep in mind the confident hope of Mary, and join with her in rejoicing, preparing our hearts for Christ’s coming on Christmas, and the hope he brings to our world.

“My Soul Magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour.”

Amen, God Bless.