Voice: Doreen
Today is Monday, 8th of December. Take a moment to be still in His presence.
We pray:
Almighty and everlasting Father,
we thank you that you have brought us safely to the beginning of this day.
Keep us from falling into sin or running into danger;
order us in all our doings;
and guide us to do always what is right in your eyes:
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Being the Season of Advent, we will read and reflect on the canticle, The Song of Mary, from Luke 1:46-55. Let us pause to hear sung to us:
46 And Mary said,
“My soul magnifies the Lord,
47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48 for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.
For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
49 for he who is mighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
50 And his mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.
51 He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;
52 he has brought down the mighty from their thrones
and exalted those of humble estate;
53 he has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
54 He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
55 as he spoke to our fathers,
to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”
This is the Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
The Magnificat
The Magnificat begins with a confession of where true greatness comes from: “For the Lord has looked with favour upon His lowly servant.” God’s gracious gaze rests on a young Jewish peasant girl.
In first-century Jewish culture, girls were usually betrothed between ages 12–14. Mary could have been that young. Considering her age, her gender, and her humble background, it is no surprise she described herself as “lowly.” Yet generations would call her blessed, for God chose the one whom society overlooked.
Reversal is the heartbeat of the Magnificat.
The proud will be scattered in their conceit—banished, isolated. Pride needs an audience; stripped of others to impress, the proud person is left alone with his own emptiness.
The mighty will be dethroned. Kings forever? Not at all. Power is a temporary illusion, yet those who sit on high seats often forget how fragile their reigns truly are.
The lowly will be lifted up.
The hungry will be filled.
But the rich will be sent away empty.
This pattern has marked the story of God’s people throughout history. Those who fear Him and remain humble are exalted. Those who are proud and self-reliant come under His judgment.
Jesus captures this truth succinctly:
“Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” (Matt. 23:12)
Why does God favour the humble?
Because the humble are closer to the truth.
- Humility allows us to see reality as it is, not as our ego wants it to be.
- Pride blinds; humility opens our eyes to our limits and our need for grace.
- The humble are teachable—willing to listen, to learn, and to be corrected.
- The proud cling to illusions; the humble receive truth, even when uncomfortable.
Scripture affirms this again and again:
“When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom.” (Prov. 11:2)
As we enter this Season of Advent, at the close of another year, let the Song of Mary ring in your heart.
Ask God to strip away illusions about yourself.
Humble yourself before Him.
And like Mary, may the Lord be magnified in and through our lives.
We say the collect for today
Almighty God,
give us grace to cast away the works of darkness
and put on the armour of light,
now in the time of this mortal life,
in which your Son Jesus Christ who came to us in great humility;
that on the last day,
when he shall come again in his glorious majesty
to judge the living and the dead,
we may rise to the life immortal;
through him who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen
Be blessed by this version of the Magnificat.
Link to today’s Morning Office
About This Daily Devotion
This weekday devotion is drawn from the Morning Office and is part of a project initiated by Revd Canon Terry Wong, with contributions from clergy and members across various parishes. Each entry includes selected readings from the appointed Psalm and another Scripture passage, accompanied by a reflection and prayer. An audio option is also available, often ending with a hymn or song. We encourage you to both read and listen.
Our aim is to help Anglicans engage more deeply with our rich liturgical tradition, while meeting the devotional needs of today’s believers. This project began on Ash Wednesday 2025 and is offered on weekdays only.
For feedback, please write to us at info@mpcc.org.sg
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