Magyar Egyház, 2003 (82. évfolyam, 1-3. szám)
2003-10-01 / 3. szám
4. oldal MAGYAR EGYHÁZ síimssr wttn, w.m.W'w* ^0*0)01 iif „«'S-Luke 1:46-56. Mary was visiting her cousin Elizabeth when she expressed her joy in the language of this noble song which is commonly called ’’the Magnificat”. It would be good if all social interaction were as useful to our hearts as this visit was to Mary. Mary, full of faith, goes to see Elizabeth, who is also full of holy confidence, and the two are not long together before their faith mounts to full assurance, and their full assurance bursts forth in a torrent of sacred praise. When we meet with our kinfolk and acquaintances, let it be our prayer to God that our communion may not only pleasant, but profitable; that we may not merely pass away time and spend a pleasant hour, but may advance a day’s march nearer to heaven, and acquire greater fitness for our eternal rest. The music of Mary’s soul finds measured utterance of its serene and stately joy. The Magnificat, used in many churches, is the highest specimen of the subtle influence of the song of purity, so exquisitely described by a great poet. It is a woman teaching in the church for ever without usurpation of authority, but with a saintly quietness, that knows no end. Mary used the term ”God my Savior”. It is the recognition of God in this character that alone dispels doubt and anxiety, and imparts a true and full joy because in Christ the Lord satisfied all spiritual needs. This passage gives us an eternal principle that still applies today: To Ilis name shall be called... Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6 know Him is to adore Him. If we know Him we will sing to Him. Elizabeth sings the praises of Mary’s faith; Mary answers by a song of praise to God - His grace, might, mercy, justice, and faithfulness. The subject of Mary’s song is a Savior and she sings sweetly, she praises her God right heartly, her soul is on fire. She doesn’t sing alone. She can sing together with us. If we know Him we will magnify Him.This is the keynote of this choice sonnet. When your own heart is lifted up, then lift up the name of the Lord. Exalt Him when He exalts you. Do not magnify yourself ! It is a job for all. It is a sign of a full heart. It is a reason for hopefulness. It is a guide in our way. If we know Him we will rejoice Him. When Mary speaks here of her soul and her spirit, she means to describe exhaustively the whole inward immaterial being of man. If we know Him we will praise Him. Mary’s song of praise is the climax of all the hymns of the old covenant. It is the beginning of all the hymns of the new, which is the first song of praise recorded in the New Testament. Her soul and spirit bear their part in the work of thanksgiving. Thank the Good God who gave His only Son ... God my Savior! S.Sz Tiie Biö ^Vheel In September 1960, I woke up one morning with six hungry babies and just 75 cents in my pocket. Their father was gone. The boys ranged from three months to seven years; their sister was two. Their Dad had never been much more than a presence they feared. Whenever they heard his tires crunch on the gravel driveway they would scramble to hide under their beds. He did manage to leave $15.- a week to buy groceries. Now that he had decided to leave, there would be no more beatings !, but no food either. If there was a welfare system in effect in Southern Indiana at that time, I certainly knew nothing about it. I scrubbed the kids until they looked brand new and then put on my best homemade dress. I loaded them into the rusty old 51 Chevy and drove off to find a job. The seven of us went to every factory, store and restaurant in our small town. No luck. The kids stayed crammed into the car and tried to be quiet while I tried to convince whomever would listen that I was willing to learn or do anything. I had to have a job. Still no luck. The last place we went to, just a few miles out of town, was an old Root Beer Barrel drive-in that had been converted to a truck stop. It was called the Big Wheel. An old lady named Granny owned the place and she peeked out of the window from time to time at all those kids. She needed someone on the graveyard shift, 11 at night until seven in the morning. She paid 65 cents an hour and I could start that night. I raced home and called the teenager down the street that baby-sat for people. I bargained with her to come and sleep on my sofa for a dollar a night. She could arrive with her pajamas on and the kids would already be asleep. This seemed like a good arrangement to her, so we made a deal. That night when the little ones and I knelt to say our prayers we all thanked God for finding Mommy a job. And so I started at the Big Wheel. When I got home in the mornings I woke the babysitter up and sent her home with one dollar of my tip money - fully half of what I averaged every night. As the weeks went by, heating bills added a strain
