magnificat
what priests and seers
could not discern.
In Galilean hills
far from Temple Mount
and palace rule...
God's afoot
when prophet babe
kicks advent news.
"Blessed are you!"
is the first word
out her mouth -
just as it would be
for that heavenly voice
speaking hope
to Jordan
and to hungry people
awaiting God on mount or plain
(does it really matter if you read
Matthew or Luke?).
for the lowly to be magnified?
Yes, saith the Lord,
who is in the business
of exaltation
without exploitation
so that even
a knocked-up peasant girl
knows favor.
Her little babe,
born to trouble
(so Psalmist sang)
would drink deep of her hope,
gulp down God's promise,
choke on power's cruel judgment -
and still he rose.
Rose above the sickness
by touching lepers.
Rose above sin
by dining with sinners
(the wine was just icing on that cake).
Rose above Rome and above Caesar
and above his murderers
simply by forgiving,
and praying for deliverance.
Not his. Theirs.
For he listened
to his mama,
who remembered
that for all God's turn the world around
lift up the lowly promises,
he is still the Father
of mercy.
November 21, 2014
"He Casts Down the Mighty From Their Thrones," linocut by SarahDFuller, available at etsy.com.
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