Mary’s song
Day 344, Monday, July 21
Luke Chapter 1
Now that you have read Isaiah you might have a different reading of Mary’s song and Zechariah’s song in chapter 1.
Zecharaiah’s song is identified as a prophecy. While the word isn’t used with Mary’s song, it’s clearly in the same style.
Not only do they look and sound a lot like the prophecies in Isaiah, but notice the common theme in Mary’s song where the birth of her child is to be good news for the hungry but bad news for the powerful.
“He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty.”
We often focus on the individual salvation aspect of the coming of Jesus, but the idea of his arrival bringing justice to the world is in the Bible from the very beginning—and justice is good news to some and bad news for others.

-Rev. Mark Fleming

Monday meditation

Job 9:14-20
“How then can I dispute with him? How can I find words to argue with him? Though I were innocent, I could not answer him; I could only plead with my Judge for mercy. Even if I summoned him and he responded, I do not believe he would give me a hearing. He would crush me with a storm and multiply my wounds for no reason. He would not let me catch my breath but would overwhelm me with misery. If it is a matter of strength, he is mighty! And if it is a matter of justice, who can challenge him? Even if I were innocent, my mouth would condemn me; if I were blameless, it would pronounce me guilty.”

Prayer focus
Lord, let us live so that your promise of justice is good news to us.