Growing up in Montreal, Quebec the memories that are most riveted in my mind and emotions are those of Christmas. The mystery of the birth of Christ, the French cultural traditions, and of course the embracing of the exchanging of gifts all cumulated into a time of reflection, receiving, and reveling.
However when cleared of all its sentimental, traditional and commercial trappings Christmas is a celebration of anything but sweetness and gushiness from a prophetic and biblical perspective. Luke records for us the historical account of the events leading up to and during the arrival of Christ. In chapter one we find the famous Magnificant. A song/prayer of Mary resembling more of a revolutionary battle cry than of anything sentimental. It was a triumphant declaration that what God has promised He is now about to deliver on. This was a time of revolt where the dreams, frustrations and aspirations of the oppressed Israelites were to dethrone the tyrants who were oppressing them. Injustice, hatred, persecution, and oppression all had their part in this devastating time for the people of God.
In Mary's song/prayer we see this declaration that God was taking action, He was about to bring relief from the oppressors, that justice was about to be manifested and the lowly would be exalted. It is a harkening back to a celebrated event in the Old Testament known as the Jubilee Year. The Jubilee Year provided a 'double portion' of rest every 50th year. It was a time when the people would be bound to restore the land, experience both personal and economic freedom and to depend on God. The Jubilee Year was a time of joyful celebration of God's sovereignty resulting in His people being emancipating from slavery and being brought into equality among the Israelites. Also it was a time of social justice where those in need would be helped and the goods of the earth became the common property of all.
The announcement to the Shepherd's watching over their flocks was an announcement of Good News! The Good News or Gospel, meaning revelation, was an important concept in biblical times much in the same was that Email, Face book, Twitter, TV, etc is to us today. It was something longed for from family who had sons in the battlefront of a war, of promise that a son had been born to the king ensuring peace etc. Imagine a Greek runner speeding his or her way from the distance toward the village. The anticipation and anxiety rising up in the expectant hearers of the news of how things were going in a far off place. Its difficult for us to relate in our day of instant communication. We forget the agonizing time lapses in between primitive modes of communication. It was serious good news with all the trivial trimmed away. Just the facts of some significant and epic event. Think in terms of turning on the news or logging onto your computer and learning that HIV/Aids were obliterated, world poverty and hunger solved, or world peace had come.
The Mary Declaration of Luke is a declaration that whatever God is going to do its good for the poor and it changes everything! Jesus Himself puts it into a context for us essentially saying that His arrival, Christmas, is a Jubilee Year. In Luke chapter 4:18-19 He says that He has the Spirit of the Lord upon him to; deliver the Good News to the poor, bring freedom to the prisoners, give sight to the blind, and bring healing to the broken. That the Christmas child is the one who will bring the Year of the Lord to his creation. That He is the one to bring the Jubilee Year that creates a level playing field and a deletion of sin.
How are you going to celebrate Christmas this year? As a recipient in need of a personal Jubilee Year? As someone who has encountered the authentic and powerful Jubilee Year and now is to bring it to the poor, blind, broken and bound in return? Who around you is poor in the truest sense of the word in spirit? Who is living life blindfolded as were unaware of the enlightenment of Jesus? Anyone broken and beat up from the addictions and stress of life? Anyone thinking they are so far ‘gone’ there is no hope for relief from bounds? There is a Jubilee Year for them too and you are the one to share the Good News.
Come to think about it…my Montreal Christmas’ weren’t so hedonistic after all. Church, family and generosity coming together to make one stop and appreciate what God has done. To reach out to someone else breaking the back of selfishness. True freedom…thanks Mary, mother of Christ, for the song/prayer that tells me I can be a revolutionary and get over myself!
