Jack Kornfield, the American Buddhist monk, writer and teacher tells this story.

In a certain East African tribe when a woman decides it is time for her to have a child, she goes out away from her home a bit and sits under a tree and listens.

She listens until she hears the song of the child who wants to come.

And she begins to sing it to herself.

Then she returns to the man who is her partner and she teaches the song to him.

And while they are making love, they sing it together to call the child to them.

The mother and father continue to sing it to the child in the womb.

And as the time draws near they teach it to the midwives, and during the birth, the midwives sing the song to the child.

As the child grows, the villagers who have learned the song, sing it to him or her. If the child falls, or gets hurt, they scoop him up and sing his song to him.

When she does something wonderful, they sing it to her.

During the tribal rites of puberty, the villagers sing the song.

During their wedding, the songs of the bride and groom are sung.

When they are old and dying, the villagers gather round the bed and sing it for the last time.

In today’s gospel, Mary sings her child’s song about him and who he will become.

It is the song of the child who wants to come, who wants to do the will of God.

It is a song about the God who is sending this child in order to keep the promises God made to Abraham and all those who followed him.

The church sings the song of the child often, especially during Evening Prayer.

We call it the Magnificat – Mary’s Song.

But it’s really Mary’s song for the child.

And it announces how God, through the child will make everything right.

How the poor and the lowly will have a champion in this child.

The child will stand in solidarity with the weak and the friendless and the powerless.

Each of us has a song, a song deep inside, a song about our purpose, our future. Do you know what your song is?

If we are not aware of it, perhaps we, like the African woman, need to sit under a tree and listen until we hear the words of our song.

Perhaps our song is a song of hope like Mary’s.

A song for the lowly, the hungry, the homeless, the disenfranchised, the forgotten, the marginalized, the neglected, the prisoners, the refugees.

Perhaps it’s a song that celebrates a God who uses power for mercy.

Who liberates oppressed people.

Who puts down the cruel and powerful people and lifts up the lowly.

A God who cannot endure those who are proud, who take credit for everything God has done.

A God who fills the hungry, those who are literally hungry, but also those hungry for love, acceptance, respect.

A God who fills them all with the good things they long for.

And this God sends the selfish rich away with nothing, which is probably the best thing that could happen to them.

Because it’s only when we have nothing and are needy that we reach out for God.

Perhaps our song is a song about God’s hope and purpose for us.

It is a song our heart will sing at all the important moments of our lives – the good times and the bad.

May we sing our song with our lives.

And when our final hour arrives may we hear God singing our song to us and recognize it as our own.

My soul magnifies my Lord.

And my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.

For he has looked with favor 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 he has 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 forever.

This is the agenda of our God and the song of Mary’s child.

This is what love in action looks like.

This is the creed of all who follow the God of Love.

May we carry this song in our hearts; and may it be our rallying cry.