“My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on the lowly state of his servant. Surely from now on all generations will call me blessed, Luke 1:46-48

Today is the feast of the Virgin Mary. In the Roman Catholic tradition it is referred to as the Feast of the Assumption of Mary. It’s one of the 5 Marianne feasts we as Anglicans celebrate.

Whenever I think of Mary, being blessed is always at the forefront of my mind as she is very often referred to as the Blessed Mary. Very often the Greek word used for Blessed is translated as Happy. In this case it isn’t just about happiness, it is also about being esteemed and I would want to add being chosen. These days the saying blessed and highly favoured is a common phrase.

Blessedness as looked on through the life of Mary is not just a privilege but it is also an awesome responsibility, as one has to live out this special anointing by the holy spirit, this choosiness. Mary played a pivotal role in the story of Salvation and she recognized that bearing the od-human Jesus would be the singular most important thing she did in her life. Hers was the job to keep Jesus in line, to direct him as he grew as a human until he came into the full understanding of how best to express his godliness. Jeremiah tells us that before we were formed God made a plan for each of us, a plan to make us esteemed persons. He calls it prosperity.

Mary’s blessedness shows that all of us can live in Blessedness and live out Blessedness. Blessedness is not luck nor special favour but an understanding that each of us is special in our own way. That God has given to each of us a gift unique to us and it is our calling to express it. It is not ours to keep, but it is for nurturing of others and for building up of the body of Christ. Further in chapter 1, Luke places on Zachariah’s lips another perspective of being blessed. It is about ensuring that others too can live blessed lives. Verses 74-75 says free to worship God and to live in holiness and righteousness.

Luke in chapter 1 not only declares the coming of Jesus as Mary’s son, he also declares the birth of his forerunner John the Baptist. God has chosen all of us to do something different for God’s honour and glory. Being blessed and highly favoured is then not just about receiving the good things life offers to us, it is living in such a way that others see how they too can live out their blessedness and favour. We are each different with unique gifts that God wants us to express. Luke truly understood Blessedness as in chapter 4: 18-19 emphasizes it by repeating Isaiah 61 that the spirit of God comes on us for the benefit of others. That passage says The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.” This sentiment is expressed all through the bible partnering it seems with the story of salvation and liberation.

Mary too understand her role in the liberation of her people. Zachariah understood his role and what would be the role of John the Baptist. We too must seek to understand our role in the story of Salvation. How is God leading us to bring others into their own blessedness and favour? It is something for us to ponder We pray that as we seek to do as God leads us, we will not be daunted by the challenges of living a blessed and chosen life as the strength of God pilots us. The power of God preserves us. The wisdom of God instructs us. The hand of God protects us. The way of God directs us. The shield of God defends us. The host of God guards us against the snares of evil and the temptations of the world. Where God is, all is well. All will be well, all manner of things will be well. Amen