“He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.’”
Mary’s Magnificat, Luke 1:51 (NRSV)
Kingdom of Heaven
Mary understood the proud, and their own image of themselves. She would have seemed lowly and poor in their estimation. Yet with a sweep of God’s Spirit, a humble Galilean would become the mother of God the Son. This was the true reality, the Kingdom of Heaven established on earth, with citizens mighty in spirit, if appearing menial and commonplace to the proud.
The Kingdom of Heaven is now within every person who has placed their faith in Jesus, and in whom God abides. Christ is recognized as king in this realm, for He is worthy of honor as well as of love. The angels have always existed in this Kingdom, that is why they cry “Holy” and glorify God.
Imagine how quiet everyone must have gotten when Jesus said, “Oh how delighted and joyful are people whose spirits are in abject poverty, who are beaten to their knees in spiritual destitution, so desperate they are beyond downtrodden and oppressed.” How could that be? Because they are poor enough to qualify as citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven. They know they have no earthly resources whatsoever. They are so humbled and helpless that they put their whole trust in God.
Christmas Carol
It came upon the midnight clear,
“It Came Upon A Midnight Clear” Edmund H. Sears (1810-1876)
that glorious song of old,
from angels bending near the earth
to touch their harps of gold:
“Peace on the earth, good will to all,
from heaven’s all-gracious King.”
The world in solemn stillness lay,
to hear the angels sing.
Prayer
Oh how serene and joyful, how deeply satisfied we are when we realize how spiritually impoverished we are without You, and place our whole trust in You, for then You bring us into the Kingdom of Heaven. With the angels, we cry glory, for You are worthy.
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
Jesus’s Beatitudes, Matthew 5:3 (NRSV)
