From Generation to Generations – Mary’s Magnificat, Word by Word with Sonja Corbitt

“Do not consider this genealogy a small thing to hear: for truly it is a marvelous thing that God should descend to be born of a woman, and to have as His ancestors David and Abraham” (St. John Chrysostom, Homily on Matthew).

For other episodes in this series, visit the Discerning Hearts Sonja Corbitt page

Scripture References for The Show

Luke 1:46-55, the words of the Magnificat

And Mary said:
“My soul magnifies the Lord,
47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48 for he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden.
For behold, henceforth 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 on those who fear him
from generation to generation.
51 He has shown strength with his arm,
he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts,
52 he has put down the mighty from their thrones,
and exalted those of low degree;
53 he has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent empty away.
54 He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
55 as he spoke to our fathers,
to Abraham and to his posterity for ever.”

Exo 34:7  “keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.”

Matthew 1 & Luke 3:23, genealogies of Jesus

2 Samuel 7:12, Promise to David concerning Christ, royal line of David, that He should spring from him, and reign for ever. Confirmed in Psalm 88 and 131; repeated to Solomon, David’s Son, 1 Kings 9:5.

Genesis 22:18, Promises to Abraham concerning Christ

Genesis 14:13, Abram called “Hebrew” for the first time (from nation called Eber, meaning to cross over or pass through)

Episode Resources

My Promise and Purpose Await in Integrity, Sonja Corbitt

Redemptoris Mater, (John Paul II) She knows that as such she can point out to her Son the needs of mankind, and in fact, she “has the right” to do so. Her mediation is thus in the nature of intercession: Mary “intercedes” for mankind. And that is not all. As a mother she also wishes the messianic power of her Son to be manifested, that salvific power of his which is meant to help man in his misfortunes, to free him from the evil which in various forms and degrees weighs heavily upon his life (29).

This week’s LOVE exercise (interactive scripture meditation, or lectio divina) is based on a Franciscan* personality approach. Go on! Try it!

Listen (Lectio)

“And his mercy is on those who fear him from generation to generation” (Luk 1:50).

Observe (Meditatio)

Sometime this week, visit someone in your family who is old. If there is no one in your family who is aged or who lives close by enough for a visit, go to a nursing home unannounced and ask permission to visit an elderly patient who rarely has visitors.

Verbalize (Oratio)

Talk to this person about God’s mercy. What do you have in common? What is different?

Entrust (Contemplatio)

Before you leave, pray for this person and all his/her ancestors and descendants. In your prayer, entrust them all to God along with your own ancestors and descendants. Ask God to bless and help your new friend, and add him or her to your daily prayer list.

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*Interactive scripture meditations, LOVE Exercises, vary weekly according to the four personalities, or “prayer forms,” explored in Prayer and Temperament, by Chester Michael and Marie Norrisey: Ignatian, Augustinian, Franciscan, and Thomistic.

 

 For more resources and Sonja’s scripture meditation exercise for this episode visit  the Bible Study Evangelista website  

Sonja’s books can found here

Sonja Corbitt is the Bible Study Evangelista. She’s a Catholic Scripture teacher with a story teller’s gift – a Southern Belle with a warrior’s heart and a poet’s pen.

We’re all sweating and dirty with the effort to love and lift all He’s given to us – those people, duties, callings, and longings that break our hearts and make them sing, sometimes at the same time. But most times, we need to be loved and lifted ourselves.

So her Bible study media are created with you in mind, bites of spinach that taste like cake, to help you make space in your busy heart and schedule for God to love and lift you all the way up into His great lap, where all you’ve been given is loved and lifted too.

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