Scattered the Proud

In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.

When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord."

And Mary said,

"My soul magnifies the 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 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."

And Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home. Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. Luke 1:39-57

Scattered the Proud

The proud, like pollen on a spring breeze

scattered and sent away to be like the poor

the rich, rejected and sent away without

to learn the pain of true need and want.

We are taught both in lack and abundance

we might be so angry with God in our pain

and reject the promises young girls knew

yet we are never left in this emptiness.

We hear her ancient song of praise

remembering exodus and deserts

walking without direction and confused

we still received manna though underserved.

I will walk upright even in these shadows

be joyful in the light and in setting sun

for the promises are never withdrawn

love walks with refugees and outcasts.