"LET THE FIRES OF YOUR JUSTICE BURN"

"LET THE FIRES OF YOUR JUSTICE BURN" 

        In his powerful hymn based on Mary's Magnificat (in Luke's gospel) called "The Canticle of Turning," Rory Cooney writes these words in the refrain: "My heart shall sing of the day you bring/Let the fires of your justice burn."  In this hymn, he has caught the essence of one of the most powerful songs of justice in the Bible.  Last week I looked at the "love" part of the Christmas story.  This week comes its counterpart: justice.  These two themes must always be in tension with one another:  justice keeps love from being only sentimentality, while love keeps justice from being too harsh.

        In Luke 1:39-56. Mary is visiting her cousin Elizabeth, who is also miraculously pregnant.  In this visit there is a strong aura of love, community, and solidarity that are shared.  Basking in that love and community, Mary sings a song which begins "My soul magnifies the Lord," which leads to the traditional title of the song "Mary's Magnificat."  In the midst of the sentimentality and consumerism of the Christmas holiday, we would do well to read and to sing this song of Mary's.  It is a song of justice based on the birth and ministry of Jesus, a song often forgotten (and ignored) in all the to-do lists of the holiday season.

        Mary's song is a call to justice:

"God has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts,

God has pulled down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those who are crushed,

God has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich God has sent away empty."

        These are not words from a Marxist or a communist or a socialist - these are words from the Mother of Jesus.  They are based in the continuing vision of Mary, as she agrees to be the vessel for the coming of God in our midst.  Her vision reveals that the birth of Jesus will not only point towards peace on earth and goodwill to all.  The birth of Jesus also points towards justice: the rich brought down, and the poor lifted up. The idea of justice and reparations ring throughout the story of the birth of Jesus.  Not many Christmas hymns emphasize this theme - we prefer the "good will to all" part that promotes charity but not justice.  Mary's agency and vision include not only her "yes" to God but also a ringing call to generations to come: the birth of Jesus is a call to justice.

        The third stanza of "Canticle of Turning" interprets well this dynamic of justice that is embedded in the Christmas story:

            "From the halls of power to the fortress tower, not a stone will be left on stone,

            Let the king beware, for your justice tears every tyrant from their throne,

            The hungry poor shall weep no more for the food they can never earn,

            There are tables spread, every mouth be fed, for the world is about to turn."

        As we think about the meaning of this Christmas story, let us remember Mary's Magnificat and its call to justice.  Let us find our place in that parade of witnesses, set on fire for justice by the birth of Jesus.