That song that has become the New Year’s song:

Auld Lang Syne–Should old acquaintance be forgot

Happy New Year!

I’m still stuck on Christmas. Last week I talked about Mary, gifts, and the singing of the Magnificat.

Do you know the Magnificat? That is fancy Latin for the song of what Mary said.

Here is the short story. Angel tells Mary she is going to have a baby, no need for any help, God will make it happen. Mary has just this to say:

 Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.

It is not until Mary goes to see her cousin Elizabeth that she has more to say and speaks out the words we know as the Magnificat:

 My soul doth magnify the Lord,

And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.

And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.

He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.

He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.

He hath helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy;

As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.

This is sweet, and then read it again, and it is powerful. Scattering the proud and putting down the mighty? and what about exalting the lowly and feeding the hungry? Remembering Mercy.

This is Mary talking. She’s a celebrity now, but she wasn’t then.

You know what she was then? A young girl visiting her cousin and friend. A friend, who knew her, loved her and recognized her for what she was. Elizabeth’s greeting to her unlocked her throat and that was when she spoke those words, her dream for herself and the world.

The Guatemalan Mothers of the disappeared marched holding those words until Mary’s dream words were banned. The British Empire forbade singing them in India. These words rang so strong through the centuries.

Do you see? The angel did not inspire them. Her friend inspired them.

That is what we can do for each other. That is how friends and family can be.

So go! Be with your loved ones! Greet each 0ther with joy and appreciation. We can create the safe place to speak our dreams and start making them come true.

It is a new year. For God’s sake, let us not let old acquaintance be forgot.