December 22
My Soul Proclaims
The Greatness of the Lord!

Readings: 1 Samuel 1:24-28 / Luke 1:46-56

Reflection

Hannah stands in the temple at Shiloh with her young son Samuel. Years ago, she was barren and heartbroken, crying out to God for a child while others mocked her grief. She made a vow: "O LORD of hosts, if you look with pity on the misery of your handmaid, and give me a son, I will give him to the LORD for as long as he lives." God heard her prayer. She conceived Samuel. And now, true to her word, she brings him to the temple to dedicate him to God's service for life. "I prayed for this child, and the LORD granted my request," she tells Eli the priest. "Now I, in turn, give him to the LORD; as long as he lives, he shall be dedicated to the LORD." Then she prays one of the most beautiful prayers in Scripture, a song of thanksgiving that Mary will echo centuries later. Fast forward to Luke's Gospel: Mary has just arrived at Elizabeth's house. Elizabeth's baby leaped in her womb at Mary's greeting, and Elizabeth proclaimed Mary blessed among women. Now Mary responds with her own song, the Magnificat: "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my Savior." Two women. Two impossible conceptions. Two songs of praise. Hannah gives her miracle child back to God. Mary carries the miracle child who is God. Both understand something profound: every gift comes from God and belongs to God.

Today's O Antiphon is "O Rex Gentium", O King of the Nations. And Mary's Magnificat proclaims exactly who this King is and what His kingdom looks like. "He has shown might with his arm, dispersed the arrogant of mind and heart. He has thrown down the rulers from their thrones but lifted up the lowly. The hungry he has filled with good things; the rich he has sent away empty." This is the King Mary is carrying, the one who reverses everything the world values. The powerful brought low. The humble exalted. The hungry fed. The rich sent away empty. Hannah sang the same song when she gave Samuel to God: "The bows of the mighty are broken, while the tottering gird on strength. The well-fed hire themselves out for bread, while the hungry batten on spoil. The barren wife bears seven sons, while the mother of many languishes." God's kingdom turns everything upside down. Or right-side up, depending on your perspective. Hannah's prayer became Mary's song. And Mary's song announces the King who will make it all real.

Three days until Christmas. Three days until the King of Nations is born in a feeding trough in Bethlehem. Mary sings His praise before He's even born because she knows who He is and what He's come to do. "He has helped Israel his servant, remembering his mercy, according to his promise to our fathers, to Abraham and to his descendants forever." The promise to Abraham, that through his descendants all nations would be blessed, is being fulfilled in Mary's womb. The King of Nations is coming. Not on a war horse. Not with armies. As a baby. Born to a teenage girl who sings God's praise. Born into poverty, not power. Born to lift up the lowly, feed the hungry, and show mercy to the humble. Hannah gave Samuel to God's service. Mary gives birth to God Himself. Both women understood: everything is God's. Every child. Every gift. Every breath. We don't own anything. We're just stewards. And the greatest act of faith is giving back to God what He's given us. My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord. Three days until we see Him. Three days until the King arrives.

Franciscan Reflection

Francis lived the Magnificat every day. He was born into wealth and chose poverty, the hungry being filled while the rich sent away empty. He could have been powerful but chose to be lowly, God lifting up the humble. Everything Francis taught came from Mary's song: God reverses the world's values. What the world calls foolish, God calls wise. What the world calls weak, God calls strong. What the world calls poor, God calls rich. When Francis stripped naked in the town square and gave everything back to his father, he was living Hannah's dedication and Mary's Magnificat: "I give him to the LORD." Francis gave himself completely. No reservations. No backup plan. Just total surrender to the King of Nations. Today's O Antiphon reminds us: Jesus is King. Not just of Israel. Of all nations. Including yours. Does your life proclaim His greatness? Do your choices reflect His upside-down kingdom?

For Your Reflection

Take your time. I hope you have deepened your spiritual life with all these questions throughout your Advent Journey.

About Hannah's Dedication:

  • Hannah prayed for Samuel, then gave him back to God. What gift has God given you that you're holding onto instead of dedicating?
  • "I prayed for this child, and the LORD granted my request." What prayer has God answered that you've forgotten to thank Him for?
  • Hannah's surrender led Samuel to become a prophet who anointed kings. What might God do with what you give back to Him?

About Mary's Magnificat:

  • "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord." Does your life proclaim God's greatness, or your own?
  • Mary rejoiced in God her Savior before Jesus was born. Can you praise God for what He's doing before you see the results?
  • The Magnificat is all about reversal: the proud scattered, the lowly lifted, the hungry filled. Where do you resist God's upside-down kingdom?

About O Rex Gentium (O King of Nations):

  • Jesus is King of ALL nations, not just religious people, not just one country, but everyone everywhere. Do you live like He's your King?
  • Kings demand loyalty. What competes with Jesus for kingship in your life?
  • Mary carried the King in her womb. We carry Him in our hearts through faith. Are you treating Him like royalty?

About Three Days:

  • We're three days from Christmas. Is your heart ready to receive the King?
  • Hannah gave Samuel. Mary gave Jesus to the world. What is God asking you to give?
  • "He has looked upon his handmaid's lowliness." Where do you need to embrace lowliness instead of demanding recognition?

Praying the Joyful Mysteries

As you pray the rosary today, hear Mary's Magnificat through the mysteries:

The Annunciation - "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord.” Mary's yes is her song.

The Visitation - Mary sings the Magnificat at Elizabeth's house. Her joy overflows.

The Nativity - The King of Nations born in poverty. The mighty brought low. The lowly lifted up.

The Presentation - Hannah dedicated Samuel. Mary presents Jesus. Both give their children to God.

Finding in the Temple - "Did you not know I must be in my Father's house?" Even as a child, Jesus shows He's King.

The Joyful Mysteries are Mary's Magnificat lived out. Every mystery proclaims God's greatness. Every mystery shows the upside-down kingdom. Every mystery reveals the King.

A Quiet Challenge

This week, pray the Magnificat every day. It's Mary's song, but make it yours. As you pray each line, ask: Is this true in my life?

"My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord." Does mine? "He has scattered the proud.” Am I humble or proud? "He has lifted up the lowly.” Do I lift up the lowly or ignore them? "The hungry he has filled with good things.” Do I feed the hungry?

Let Mary's song examine your life. Let it shape your choices. Let it become your prayer.

Three days until Christmas. Start singing now.

Closing

Pray this with Mary's joy:

"Lord Jesus, O King of Nations, You are the fulfillment of every promise, the answer to every prayer, the hope of every nation. Hannah prayed for a child and dedicated him to You. Mary carried You in her womb and proclaimed Your greatness. Give me their hearts, surrendered, grateful, overflowing with praise. My soul proclaims Your greatness, Lord. Not my greatness. Not my accomplishments. Not my wisdom. Yours. You scatter the pride, scatter my pride. You lift up the lowly, teach me humility. You fill the hunger, make me hunger for righteousness. You send the rich away empty, free me from attachment to wealth, comfort, security. You are King. Not just King of heaven, but King of my heart, my life, my choices, my days. Three days until we celebrate Your birth. But I celebrate You now. I dedicate myself to You now, like Hannah dedicated Samuel, like Mary dedicated her whole life. Take me. Use me. Be King. In Jesus' Name, Amen."

Then ask:

  • What gift from God am I holding onto instead of dedicating back to Him?
  • Does my life proclaim God's greatness or my own?
  • Am I ready to live in God's upside-down kingdom where the last are first?

Three days until Christmas. The King is coming. My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord.

Monday of the Fourth Week of Advent
December 22, 2025
A Franciscan Reflection



©2025 James Dacey, Jr., OFS

Location: Tonawanda, NY 14150, USA

Popular posts from this blog

Image
The Dome Basilica at The Fatima Shrine: Capturing Sunrise & Sunset The Basilica The construction of Our Lady of the Rosary of Fatima Basilica was started in 1963 and completed in 1965. This unique church measures 100 feet in diameter and 55 feet high. The dome is covered with a layer of glass and one of plexiglass depicting a contour of the Northern Hemisphere upon which rests a beautiful statue of Our Lady Fatima. The Barnabite Fathers wanted to express an architectural form that Our Lady is very much in the midst of the world helping humanity to reach the Lord. Our Lady of Fatima: Top of The Dome Two flights of stairs, consisting of 63 steps each, led to the top of the dome, for where one enjoys a beautiful view of the shrine grounds and surrounding hills. The large statue of Our Lady of Fatima is 13 feet high and weighs 10 tons. It was sculptured in Vermont Granite. The grayish color of the stone disappears at night under the spotlights, and the statue seems to beam as a star fo...
Read more
Image
Consider Becoming a Rosary Maker Have you ever wished to make a meaningful difference in the world, while deepening your own spiritual journey? If so, we invite you to join Our Lady's Rosary Makers Ministry here at the Fatima Shrine in Lewiston NY. We are more than just a group - this is a calling, we are a community, and this is a way to bring light into the lives of others while strengthening your own faith. Plus it's a whole lot of fun, you may even become addicted to Making Rosaries. Discover the Joy of Rosary Making Rosary making is a profoundly rewarding activity that combines creativity with devotion. As you craft each Rosary Bead, you're not just making a rosary you're creating a tool for prayer, a symbol of hope, and a bridge to God for someone in need. Each Rosary carries the potential to touch lives, to comfort the sick, to uplift the weary, and to inspire the faithful. Aren't you curious? A Gift That Keeps on Giving Our Rosary Makers Ministry is dedicate...
Read more
Image
Daily Lenten Reflections 2025 Helpful Guide Throughout Lent Personal Prayer at the Start of Lent on Ash Wednesday. Heavenly Father, As I begin this Lenten journey, marked with these ashes of repentance, I come before You with an open heart and a seeking spirit. Grant me the grace to embrace these forty days as a sacred time of transformation and renewal. Like Your Son Jesus in the desert, help me to face my temptations with courage and trust in Your presence. Give me wisdom to know what I must shed from my life, strength to maintain the disciplines I undertake, and love to reach out to those in need. May my fasting lead to true hunger for Your righteousness, my prayer draws me deeper into Your embrace, and my almsgiving reflect Your generous love for all. Let this not be just a time of external observance, but a season of profound inner conversion. Help me to recognize Your presence in Scripture, in silence, and in the faces of those I meet. Through Your Son's passion Lord, draw me...
Read more