Advent Meditation: Justice Brings Peace
Read
Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever.” (Luke 1:46–55)
Reflect
Sometimes I wonder if the real Mary will ever break out of the ancient paintings that domesticated her. Every time I roll past Luke 1 in my Bible reading, I’m struck again by her extraordinary prayer, worthy of the Old Testament prophets. Two thousand years later, our generation calls her blessed. She carried in her womb her very Savior—and ours.
Through Mary’s child, conceived of the Holy Spirit, all oppression one day would cease.
Mary, anticipating the peace that would follow great upheaval, rejoices in the promises of God. Her world, and ours, is filled with injustice. The proud seem to prosper. The mighty take advantage of the weak. The humble get trampled. The hungry wither away. A woman with no husband, carrying a child, Mary is vulnerable, easily exploited.
But Mary sees the world through the eyes of faith. The Lord has looked on her with favor. He has chosen her for an extraordinary task. The promise is almost too wonderful to imagine. Through her child, conceived of the Holy Spirit, all oppression one day would cease. Her people—the offspring of Abraham, and all of us who would believe Jesus by faith—would hunger and thirst for righteousness no longer. They would be satisfied in peace, because Jesus would satisfy the justice of his Father through dying on the cross.
This is the future Mary saw—when peace would come through justice. The child she carried would grow up and put an end to death’s hold on us. No longer would sin consign us to punishment, as we deserved. And when Jesus comes again, he will put an end to sin altogether. He will bring everlasting peace through his final judgment. The mighty will be humbled. The rich will be denuded.
The mighty will be humbled. The rich will be denuded.
But God will spare everyone who fears him. The Father remembered mercy when he entrusted his only Son to this daughter of Israel. When Jesus returns, we’ll love one another in perfect righteousness. All oppression will cease. Mary knew her baby boy would save many sons and daughters—generation after generation of the faithful.
Respond
How does the expectation of future justice help you to fight against injustice today? Where can you bring love today to a world that remains in bondage to oppression?
Rejoice
Truly he taught us to love one another
His law is love and his gospel is peace
Chains shall he break for the slave is our brother
And in his name all oppression shall cease
– Placide Cappeau, “O Holy Night”
