Declare Am and Rejoice!

Fraide, December 22, 2023
Wikde for Advent
Di Readings for Tudei

Listen for English

“My soul dey declare how the Lord great reach; my spirit dey rejoice in God my Savior.” Luke 1:46–47

One question wey people don dey ask since long ago na, “Which one first come, chicken or egg?” Well, maybe na question wey don stay like that because na only God know the answer to how E take create the world and all the creatures wey dey inside am.

Today, this first line from the glorious song of praise wey our Blessed Mother sing, the Magnificat, dey put another question before us. “Which one dey come first, to praise God or to rejoice in Am?” Maybe you never ask yourself that question before, but e good make you think deeply about both the question and the answer.

This first line for Mary song of praise show two things wey dey happen inside her. She “dey declare” and she “dey rejoice.” Think about those two things wey she experience inside her. We fit put the question more clearly like this: Mary declare how God great reach because joy don first fill her heart? Or joy fill her heart because she first declare how God great reach? Maybe the answer get small of both, but the way this line follow for Sacred Scripture suggest say she first declare, and na because of this, joy fill her heart.

This reflection no be just to reason about ideas or theories; instead, na something wey we fit really put for practice, and e dey help us understand our daily life well. Plenty times for life, we dey wait make God “inspire” us before we thank Am and praise Am. We dey wait until God touch us, make us experience joy, answer our prayer, and then we go respond with thanksgiving. This one good. But why we go wait? Why we go wait before we declare how God great reach?

We suppose declare how God great reach when life hard? Yes. We suppose declare how God great reach when we no feel say E dey present for our life? Yes. We suppose declare how God great reach even when we face the heaviest crosses for life? Yes, without any doubt.

To proclaim how God great no be something we suppose do only after we receive strong inspiration or answer to prayer. No be something we suppose do only after we experience how God near us. To proclaim how God great na duty wey come from love, and we must do am every time, every day, for every condition, no matter wetin happen. The main reason why we dey proclaim how God great na because of Who He be. Na God He be. And because of that fact alone, He deserve all our praise.

But one thing wey dey interesting be say, when we choose to declare how God great reach, both for good times and for hard times, e dey often lead us to experience joy too. E be like say the main reason why Mary spirit rejoice in God her Savior na because she first declare how E great reach. Joy dey come when we first serve God, love Am, and give Am the honor wey His name deserve.

Today, reflect on this process wey get two parts: to proclaim and to rejoice. To proclaim must always come first, even if we feel say nothing dey to rejoice about. But if you fit give yourself fully to proclaim how God great, you go suddenly discover the deepest reason for joy for life: God Himself.

Mama wey I love so much, you choose to proclaim how God great. You acknowledge the work wey He do for your life and for the world, wey show His glory, and as you proclaim these truths, joy fill your heart. Pray for me make I too seek to give God glory each and every day, no matter the challenges or blessings wey I receive. Make I follow your example, dear Mama, and share for your perfect joy too. Mama Mary, pray for me. Jesus, na You I trust.

New for 2024!
One wonderful Christmas gift…