09/28/2020 – Day 127 – Luke 1-2 – Luke 1: 46 – 56 – “Magnificat” – Two beautiful choral presentations… amazing.
Two sublime choral presentations here in midst of just two scriptural reading sections from our reading today, so that you might, momentarily, rest in His peace:
The “Magnificat” of Mary: “My soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit has exulted in God, my Saviour , because he looked graciously on the humble estate of his servant. For — look you — from now on all generations shall call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me and his name is holy. His mercy is from generation to generation to those who fear him. He demonstrates his power with his arm. He scatters, the proud in the plans of their hearts. He casts down the might from their seats of power. He exalts the humble. He fills those who are hungry with good things and he sends away empty those who are rich. He has helped Israel, his on, in that he has remembered his mercy — as he said to our fathers that he would — to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”
And here is Bach – Magnificat BMV 243, Bach’s first major choral work after his appointment at Leipzig in 1723, performed by the Netherlands Bach Society:
Luke 2: 25 -35 – “Now look —- there was man in Jerusalem called Simeon. This man was a good and pious man. He was waiting for the comforting of Israel and the Holy Spirit was upon him. He had received a message from the Holy Spirit that he would not see death until he had seen the Lord’s Anointed One. So he came in the Spirit to the Temple precincts. Now when his parents brought in the child Jesus, to do regarding him the customary ceremonies laid down by the law, he took him into his arms and blessed God and said, “Now O Lord, as you said, let your servant depart in peace, because my eyes have seen your instrument of salvation, which you have prepared before all the people, a light to bring your revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.” His father and mother were amazed at what was said about him. Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother. “Look you, this child is appointed to be the cause whereby many in Israel will fall and many rise and for a sign which will meet with much opposition. As for you – a sword will pierce your soul — and all this will happen that the inner thought of many hearts may be revealed.”
Sung and presented by the Cistercian monks. I am thinking now of establishing a new habit, playing this just before I enter morning and/or evening prayer so that I might rest in Him!
Soli Deo Gloria!