And Mary said: "My soul
glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in
God my Savior, for He has been mindful of
the humble state of His servant." Luke
1:46-48
Mark Mary's deep humility. She who was
chosen of God to the high honor of being
Messiah's mother, speaks of her own "humble
state," and acknowledges
her need of a "Savior."
She does not let fall a word to show that
she regarded herself as a sinless,
"immaculate" person. On the contrary, she
uses the language of one who has been taught
by the grace of God to feel her own sins,
and so far from being able to save others,
requires a Savior for her own soul. We may
safely affirm that none wouldbe more forward
to reprove the honor paid by the Romish
Church to the Virgin Mary, than the Virgin
Mary herself.
Let us copy this holy humility of our Lord's
mother, while we steadfastly refuse to
regard her as a mediator, or to pray to her.
Like her, let us be lowly in our own eyes,
and think little of ourselves.
Humility is the highest grace that can adorn
the Christian character. It is a true saying
of an old divine, that "a man has just so
much Christianity as he has humility."
Humility is the grace, which of all is most
suited to human nature. Above all, humility
is the grace which is within the reach of
every converted person.
All are not rich. All
are not learned. All are not highly gifted.
All are not preachers. But all children of
God may be clothed with humility.
- J. C. Ryle, The Gospel of Luke, 1858
