Daily Devotion – April 21, 2020 – Roy Hammerling
Luke 1:46b-55
“Mary said, “. . . he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant.”
Only the Lowly
So why did God, the king of glory, come not to the wealthy, rich, famous, or powerful, but to the likes of a poor unmarried lowly pregnant maiden? Medieval mystics, like Meister Eckhart, said that God cannot find room to take up residence in the hearts of people, if they are full of themselves. Rather it is only in the lowly, that is those who are empty and have room for the birth of God in their souls, says Eckhart, that God can find space enough to dwell. And so, Mary, the lowly one found herself pregnant, full, magnified, and blessed. And then she burst forth with a song, which overflowed from her fullness. The song rings true even today, “God’s mercy is for those who fear God . . . God has scattered the proud in their thoughts . . . brought down the powerful . . . and sent away the rich empty handed.” Only the lowly, indeed. At times, when we are full of ourselves, we are brought low by the unexpected challenges of life. As we look all around us today, we will see people crushed by the adversity of our days, especially our present situation with the coronavirus and the economic, physical, emotional, and spiritual toll it has taken upon us. What shall we do with our empty hearts? Our empty souls? Watch as God fills them? What then? Overflow to fill others. If Christ is truly found in community, then we will find the king of glory there. But how do we find God in community while under quarantine? It seems that we can only do it with our imaginations… We first of all empty ourselves by going out to those in need, and there is where we will be filled by the King of glory, God resides in the lowliest of those in need. Find your way to them by whatever imaginative means you can muster, and there you will be filled.
Prayer: Where we are full of ourselves, O God, empty us. When we are prideful, humble us. When we are lofty of spirit, bring us low. Help us to be only the lowly, and then show us the way to the lowly so you may fill us with all good things. Amen
Prayer Concerns: For all those who long to be filled and are empty inside.
