The Magnificat, Mary’s song of praise, beautifully captures the power of gratitude and trust in God’s plan.
These verses invite us to reflect on God’s mercy, justice, and faithfulness across generations.
Magnificat
The Song of Mary
Luke 1:46-55
My soul proclaims your greatness, O God;
my spirit rejoices in you, my Savior;
for you have looked with favor on your lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed;
you, the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is your Name.
You have mercy on those who fear you from generation to generation.
You, O God, have shown strength with your arm,
and scattered the proud in their conceit,
Casting down the mighty from their thrones,
and lifting up the lowly.
You have filled the hungry with good things,
and sent the rich away empty.
You have come to the help of your servant Israel,
for you have remembered your promise of mercy,
The promise made to our forebears, to Abraham, Sarah and their children for ever.
~ St. Helena Breviary
Thank you for welcoming me into your bosom, Lord
In a tight corner in the Cerasi Chapel in Santa Maria del Popolo, Rome, Carravaggio’s second painting of “The Conversion of St Paul” hangs.
Acts 9:1-31, the story of Saul’s dramatic encounter with Christ, was pivotal in my own journey of faith. It resonated deeply with me before I chose to be baptized 36 years ago.
Acts 9:3-9 reads like this:
Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples.
(NIV translation)
He went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. 3 As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him,
“Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”
5 “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked.
“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. 6 “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
7 The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. 8 Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus.
9 For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.
The Grandeur of His Power and Majesty
The passage begins with an atmosphere of intense violence.
Saul’s relentless pursuit of the early Christians is chilling, and his determination to destroy the followers of “the Way” paints a picture of unwavering hostility.
And yet Saul is struck down by a power far greater than his own—a power that not only blinds him but awakens him to a truth that changes everything.
A question is asked.
Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?
Not just by anyone but the One who rules heaven and earth.
I can still hear the gentle and soothing voice of my substitute teacher who shared this story with me in 4th grade.
How could somebody be so powerful and still so gentle?
He became the heaven and Presence I sought.
Caravaggio’s first version of “The Conversion of Saint Paul” captivates me.
In this depiction, Saul is older.
The contrast between the younger and older Saul across Caravaggio’s works invites us to consider that at any age or stage of life, we are never beyond the reach of God’s grace.
Here’s the rest of the story for your convenient reading and meditation:
10 In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!” “Yes, Lord,” he answered. 11 The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. 12 In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.” 13 “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. 14 And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.” 15 But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. 16 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.” 17 Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, 19 and after taking some food, he regained his strength.
Acts 9:10-31
Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. 20 At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. 21 All those who heard him were astonished and asked, “Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?” 22
Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah. 23 After many days had gone by, there was a conspiracy among the Jews to kill him, 24 but Saul learned of their plan. Day and night they kept close watch on the city gates in order to kill him. 25 But his followers took him by night and lowered him in a basket through an opening in the wall. 26 When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus. 28 So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. 29
He talked and debated with the Hellenistic Jews, but they tried to kill him. 30 When the believers learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus. 31 Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit,
it increased in numbers.
The Magnificat and the story of Saul’s conversion are two profound biblical passages that capture the essence of divine power, mercy, and the transformative nature of grace.
The Magnificat: A Song of Praise and Reversal
Mary’s Magnificat, as recorded in Luke 1:46-55, is a hymn of gratitude and wonder.
It is a powerful acknowledgment of God’s work in her life and the broader implications of His mercy and justice.
Themes of humility, reversal of fortunes, and the fulfillment of promises resonate throughout this prayer.
Mary’s exclamation that “all generations will call me blessed” is rooted not in personal pride but in the recognition of God’s action through her.
This hymn also highlights God’s strength to upend societal norms: lifting the lowly, scattering the proud, and filling the hungry.
Saul’s Conversion: A Transformative Encounter
Saul’s journey to Damascus, as told in Acts 9:1-31, is an extraordinary narrative of transformation.
From a man consumed by violence and zealotry, Saul becomes Paul, a fervent apostle of Christ.
The story is both terrifying and beautiful—a testament to how divine intervention can alter a person’s trajectory entirely.
The image of Saul struck blind, dependent on others for guidance, is a humbling picture of surrender.
His question, “Who are you, Lord?” and the response, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” shifts Saul’s understanding of everything he believed.
Reflection on Transformation and Calling
Both passages invite us to reflect on our own spiritual journeys.
Mary’s Magnificat reminds us of the power of gratitude and the importance of aligning our lives with God’s justice.
Saul’s conversion demonstrates that no one is beyond redemption and that God can call anyone—regardless of their past—to serve a higher purpose.
These stories also invite us to contemplate:
- Humility: Are we willing to acknowledge our dependence on God, as both Mary and Saul did?
- Courage: Do we have the faith to embrace the radical changes God may call us to make in our lives?
- Trust in God’s Plan: How can we, like Mary and Saul, trust in God’s timing and purpose even when it challenges our expectations?
Both Mary’s song and Saul’s story highlight the paradox of divine power: it is gentle enough to comfort the lowly yet strong enough to shatter the prideful.
Together, they offer a vision of God’s transformative work in individual lives and the world at large.
