Luke 1.46-55

And Mary said,

‘My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour,
for he has looked with favour on the lowliness of his servant.
Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
for the Mighty One has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
His mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
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.
He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
according to the promise he made to our ancestors,
to Abraham and to his descendants for ever.’

I meet with a woman who is seeking asylum and still fears being sent back to the violence.

“Always, I feel so guilty,” she says. I ask if I can pray with her. Perhaps she does not understand, for she kneels down, and starts praying herself. She prays in her own language – like a chant, a song of grief, soft repeated words.

I cannot understand her language, but I can understand the prayer. She’s repeating the name of Jesus, again and again. And there are tears running down her face as she pours out her need of God.

I do not know if her prayer will be answered, all I can see is her love for God and her son. It is like light – illuminating her. And I feel humbled. Her prayer is for all of us. She holds onto her young son, like Mary cradling Christ.

How you magnify – give glory to – God? What is the prayer of your heart? How God might be turning your world upside down?