Today is the Fourth Sunday in Advent. One of the lectionary readings of the day is one of my favorites: Mary’s song after she learns she will bear the child who will not only give us a new vision of God but will overthrow the political and social order we have all been told is the natural order of the world.
That song is known as the Magnifcat, the Latin phrase from the first line: “My soul magnifies the Lord…. [for] God has brought down the powerful from their thrones and lifted up the lowly; God has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away empty.”
It should also be the promise of the vaccines we have so eagerly awaited. The poor and marginalized must be treated as equal to the rich and powerful as the drug is distributed across the Nation and the world.
Prayer for the Day
Even, perhaps because, as we hear the song of Mary, O Lord,
We fear that the rich and powerful will be saved, but not us;
Even, perhaps because, as we witness the chaos of distribution,
We are fear that our lives will not be considered as worth saving.
Move us beyond the paralysis that fear causes to work for justice
In this time and in the days to come so all are saved.
In the name of him who shows us the way,
Even Christ Jesus our Lord, Amen
Thoughts for the Day
The take-home message is that the Pfizer vaccine offers spectacular protection from COVID-19 disease. Replicating this incredible outcome from the first 40,000 clinical trial participants in tens, or hundreds, or millions of people is going to be the next tall mountain to climb.
- Dave O’Connor, Professor Pathology, University of Wisconsin
Inequities in health have always existed, but at this moment there is an awakening to the power of racism, poverty and bias in amplifying the health and economic pain and hardship imposed by this pandemic.
- Dr. Helene Gayle, President, Chicago Community Trust
The spirit of the Lord God is upon me because the Lord has anointed me
Because God has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed,
To bind up the broken-hearted,
To bring liberty to the captives and release to the prisoners
Isaiah 61: 1