Listen to Mary’s song, the Magnificat: “He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty” (Luke 1:52-53).
Could there be a message more appropriate for our time? A time when the gap between rich and poor is beyond shameful. A time when 1% of U.S. citizens control $30 trillion of assets while 40% of Americans literally cannot pay their bills.
Mary’s song is not just a little thank-you note to God. This is a warrior’s song. This is about transforming fear into power. And it’s a formula we can follow.
1.) Acknowledge and give thanks for where you are (good or bad, happy or sad). Just the act of being grateful holds transformative power.
2.) Use where you are, wherever you find yourself. Take the fear, anger, joy, pain or whatever you are experiencing and use it. If you are joyful, use that energy to transform the world of others who are in pain. If you are in pain, fear or anger, use that energy to make things different.
This message is excerpted from “This was not on my list.” by Susan Sparks in the November/December 2021 Gather magazine. Today is the Annunciation of Our Lord.
Copyright © 2025 Women of the ELCA. Inquiries for permission to reproduce should be directed to [email protected]. If you enjoy this resource,
Donate Now.