Our Song of Mercy

Last night, I went for a walk through the nearby college campus. As I was passing by one of the parking lots, I saw a van from the university that is used by the college marching band. Emblazoned on the side of the van was the name of the band with the catch line, "Music Without Mercy."

I laughed to myself as I thought what this could possibly mean. Do their flutes shoot out flames of fire? Or do they use tubas as cannons?

While it is humorous to imagine this scenario, I then thought about the fact that everything in our world - perhaps even our music - can sometimes be devoid of mercy. There is a real need for mercy.

Mercy is God's radical love and acceptance of us for who we are and where we are in life. Mercy does not demand that we conform to impossible standards and forsake our natural goodness and beauty. Mercy affirms that we created in love by God and that God wants to save us from all that keeps us burdened and prevents us from being our truest and most free selves.

We do indeed have a song of mercy, one that was recited by a pregnant virgin in the hill country of Nazareth. This unexpected-yet-expectant mother of our Lord Jesus sang of God's mercy and all the ways God reaches out to save us. For us Christians, especially in a world where there is "music without mercy," this is our song of mercy:

The Canticle of Mary (Magnificat)

Luke 1:46-55

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,

And my spirit rejoices in God my Savior

For He has looked with favor on His lowly servant.

From this day all generations will call me blessed,

The Almighty has done great things for me and holy is His Name.

He has mercy on those who fear Him in every generation.

He has shown the strength of His arm.
He has scattered the proud in their conceit and has lifted up the lowly.

He has filled the hungry with good things,

And the rich He has sent away empty.

He has come to the help of His servant Israel,

For He has remembered His promise of mercy,

The promise He made to our fathers,

To Abraham and his children forever.