第一章

46 馬利亞說：我心尊主為大；47 我靈以　神我的救主為樂；48 因為他顧念他使女的卑微；從今以後，萬代要稱我有福。49 那有權能的，為我成就了大事；他的名為聖。50 他憐憫敬畏他的人，直到世世代代。51 他用膀臂施展大能；那狂傲的人正心裏妄想就被他趕散了。52 他叫有權柄的失位，叫卑賤的升高；53 叫飢餓的得飽美食，叫富足的空手回去。54 他扶助了他的僕人以色列，55 為要記念亞伯拉罕和他的後裔，施憐憫直到永遠，正如從前對我們列祖所說的話。

默想：

1. 馬利亞因著神要使用她來成就神的拯救計劃，而由衷地唱出這首將榮耀歸給神的詩歌，其中述說神的工作：扶助貧窮的人、安慰受壓迫的人、顧念被蔑視的人。馬利亞的禱告表明，神的兒女對於神已經或將要作的事，不單是心存感恩、歡悅的旁觀者；其實，神正是讓我們積極地參與其中。
2. 禱告使我們留心地活在神面前。我們的禱告永遠是第二句話，是神先說第一句話、採取第一個行動；我們的回應與答覆，就是我們對神的禱告。馬利亞的禱告，讓我們認識到她聽見、相信、接受並順服神藉著天使對她說的話。
3. 我是否曾經“聽見”神對我說話，讓我明白神的計劃？他如何透過我的參與而完成他的計劃？我當時是怎樣回應的？這經歷對我有什麼影響？
4. 今天，神是否繼續與我說話，要我與他同工，完成一些他的工作？是什麼？我會怎樣回應？

Luke 1

⁴⁶And Mary said:    “My soul glorifies the Lord ⁴⁷and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour,  ⁴⁸for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, ⁴⁹for the Mighty One has done great things for me— holy is his name.  ⁵⁰His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation.  ⁵¹He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.  ⁵²He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. ⁵³He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. ⁵⁴He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful  ⁵⁵to Abraham and his descendants forever, even as he said to our fathers.”  ⁵⁶Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.

Meditation：

1. Mary, like Samuel’s mother Hannah, praises and glorifies God through her prayer-song for God will accomplish what He has planned for the world through her.  Both prayers describe that God lifts up the poor, comforts the oppressed, and cares for the despised.   Mary’s prayer, in fact, expands our awareness that we are grateful and joyful PARTICIPANTS in what has been and is yet to come.
2. Prayer is our way of being attentively present to God, who is present to us (Emmanuel) in the Holy Spirit.  Our prayer is always the second sentence.  First God speaks; our response, our answer, is our prayer.  From this prayer, we learn that Mary hears and receives, believes and submits to the Word that conceives Christ in her.
3. Have I had any experience that I was an active participant in carrying out God’s plan for me or others?  How has this experience impacted me?
4. Am I aware that I am present to God in prayer just as God is ever present to me?  What will this awareness change me in my attitude and actions in everyday life?

Family Time

vv46-49, Mary praised God with a song.  Her song was about how God had been good to her and blessed her.  Make a list of how God has been good to your family.  Have a time of worship to sing a few favourite worship songs together.