The World is About To Turn

Luke 1:35–55 The Message

The angel answered, The Holy Spirit will come upon you, the power of the Highest hover over you; Therefore, the child you bring to birth will be called Holy, Son of God. “And did you know that your cousin Elizabeth conceived a son, old as she is? Everyone called her barren, and here she is six months pregnant! Nothing, you see, is impossible with God.” And Mary said, Yes, I see it all now: I’m the Lord’s maid, ready to serve. Let it be with me just as you say. Then the angel left her. Mary didn’t waste a minute. She got up and traveled to a town in Judah in the hill country, straight to Zachariah’s house, and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby in her womb leaped. She was filled with the Holy Spirit, and sang out exuberantly, You’re so blessed among women, and the babe in your womb, also blessed! And why am I so blessed that the mother of my Lord visits me? The moment the sound of your greeting entered my ears, The babe in my womb skipped like a lamb for sheer joy. Blessed woman, who believed what God said, believed every word would come true! And Mary said, I’m bursting with God-news; I’m dancing the song of my Savior God. God took one good look at me, and look what happened— I’m the most fortunate woman on earth! What God has done for me will never be forgotten, the God whose very name is holy, set apart from all others. His mercy flows in wave after wave on those who are in awe before him. He bared his arm and showed his strength, scattered the bluffing braggarts. He knocked tyrants off their high horses, pulled victims out of the mud. The starving poor sat down to a banquet; the callous rich were left out in the cold. He embraced his chosen child, Israel; he remembered and piled on the mercies, piled them high. It’s exactly what he promised, beginning with Abraham and right up to now.

Background

Mary is told by this angel that she’s about to have the baby that will change EVERYTHING in the ENTIRE WORLD!

She jumped right in with both feet!

She was so excited, she went to tell her cousin.

Questions

What has happened in your life to make you realize God might be bigger than you thought?

Have you ever felt really excited about something that God was doing in or through you?

When have you felt God calling you to help or encourage someone else?

Canticle of the Turning

VERSE 1: Em G D G Em D My soul cries out with a joyful shout that the God of my heart is great, Em G D G C D Em And my spirit sings of the wondrous things that you bring to the ones who wait. G Am G Em D You fixed your sight on the servant's plight, and my weakness you did not spurn, Em G D Em C D Em So from east to west shall my name be blest. Could the world be about to turn? ANTIPHON: G Am G Em D My heart shall sing of the day you bring. Let the fires of your justice burn. Em G D Em C D Em Wipe away all the tears, For the dawn draws near, And the world is about to turn. VERSE 2: Em G D G Em D Though I am small, my God, my all, you work great things in me, Em G D G C D Em And your mercy will last from the depths of the past to the end of the age to be. G Am G Em D Your very name puts the proud to shame, and to those who would for you yearn, Em G D Em C D Em You will show your might, put the strong to flight, for the world is about to turn. ANTIPHON: G Am G Em D My heart shall sing of the day you bring. Let the fires of your justice burn. Em G D Em C D Em Wipe away all the tears, For the dawn draws near, And the world is about to turn. VERSE 3: Em G D G Em D From the halls of power to the fortress tower, not a stone will be left on stone. Em G D G C D Em Let the king beware for your justice tears ev'ry tyrant from his throne. G Am G Em D The hungry poor shall weep no more, for the food they can never earn; Em G D Em C D Em These are tables spread, ev'ry mouth be fed, for the world is about to turn. ANTIPHON: G Am G Em D My heart shall sing of the day you bring. Let the fires of your justice burn. Em G D Em C D Em Wipe away all the tears, For the dawn draws near, And the world is about to turn. VERSE 4: Em G D G Em D Though the nations rage from age to age, we remember who holds us fast: Em G D G C D Em God's mercy must deliver us from the conqueror's crushing grasp. G Am G Em D This saving word that our forebears heard is the promise which holds us bound, Em G D Em C D Em 'Til the spear and rod can be crushed by God, who is turning the world around. ANTIPHON X2 G Am G Em D My heart shall sing of the day you bring. Let the fires of your justice burn. Em G D Em C D Em Wipe away all the tears, For the dawn draws near, And the world is about to turn. G Am G Em D My heart shall sing of the day you bring. Let the fires of your justice burn. Em G D Em C D Em Wipe away all the tears, For the dawn draws near, And the world is about to turn.