For the fourth Sunday in Advent, Rev. Cari preached on another prophetic text, the Magnificat of Mary, with its preceding narrative (found at Luke 1:39-55). This story in which two pregnant women encounter one another issues in the song of praise to God in which Mary declares what God has done, is doing and always does.

The Magnificat epitomizes prophetic speech (defined last week by Brueggemann and Gilbert as speech about the world “as though God were really active in it!”) The Magnificat is an invitation to see as Mary sees, to see as prophets see, and to recognize where God is at work planting new life.

In fact, Rev. Cari says, we’re all “pregnant” along with Mary and Elizabeth, in the season of Advent, as we wait expectantly for the purpose of God to be revealed.