Misericordia eius in progenies et progenies timentibus eum.
His mercy is unto generations and generations on them that fear him.
Fecit potentiam in brachio suo, dispersit superbos mente cordis sui;
He hath showed strength with his arm; He hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their heart.
deposuit potentes de sede et exaltavit humiles;
He hath put down princes from their thrones,
And hath exalted them of low degree.
esurientes implevit bonis et divites dimisit inanes.
The hungry he hath filled with good things
And the rich he hath sent empty away.
After the horrible comments made about Muslims early on in this election, I wanted to work in the style of The Morgan Crusader's Bible, which started out as pro-Crusader propaganda and ended up as a diplomatic gift from a Bishop to the Shah. It's a beautiful symbol of the unifying power of art, and the stories Christians and Muslims have in common. Further, I wanted to do a series on The Magnificat for its beautiful message, that God lifts up the humble and fills the hungry.
It is hard to believe this after this election, because in this world the rich do win, the proud do succeed. And I understand that you could read these lines from the Magnificat either in celebration or for comfort depending on who you voted for. I think this is why Christianity and American democracy sometimes mix like oil and water; everything has many sides and many ways of reading.
Sometimes there is a fine line between "what I believe" and "what I tell myself for reassurance." Maybe there is no difference. But I believe in a God that is on the side of the weak and the humble. I believe in a God that turns the wheel of fortune, where the weak and oppressed do not stay that way forever, and where the proud and cruel do not get away with it forever.
Anyway, please forgive the doleful, ponderous tone...maybe I've been reading too much Latin! Peace be with you all.
