Thoughts for the Day

Luke 1:53  “He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty.”

Mary’s response to Elizabeth is a beautiful song of praise, the Magnificat.  It may be less immediately familiar now than in the days when it was a regular inclusion in church services.  Still, Wikipedia lists almost 200 composers who have been inspired (or, I guess, commissioned) to set it to music, so maybe we can look forward to a new “band” version soon.  It begins with an outburst of praise, “My soul glorifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour” and then dances through reflections on God’s power, mercy, deeds and promises.

Having assigned only one day to reflect on this song, I’ve decided to focus on perhaps the most challenging verse.  “He has filled the hungry with good things but sent away the rich empty.”  At first reading it is patently untrue!  The hungry are by definition hungry and not filled, and the rich are similarly surrounded with far more than all they need.  We need to view it less literally (after all, it is a song, not a narrative), and I offer two perspectives, the comforting and the challenging.

For a comforting perspective, there is a clear parallel with Jesus’ statement, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.”  It is an encouragement to persevere in seeking God and His righteousness, a promise that perseverance will be rewarded, and a warning against self-sufficiency.  For a challenging perspective, I note how often the certainty of hope is expressed by writing what is yet to happen as already accomplished.  Those who hunger now, those in need, can be confident that God will ensure they are filled.  What then must the rich, those who have plenty, do to avoid being sent away empty?  How must they manage their plenty?  I don’t think of myself as rich, but I know I’m not hungry, and scripture has a way of casting imagery in black and white.  With no option to sit on the fence between rich and hungry, I know on which side I must fall.  Fortunately for us all, “His mercy extends to those who fear him from generation to generation”, a message that Jesus will expand on … and indeed make possible … through his ministry, death and resurrection still years away at this point.