The phrase, “It’s the economy, stupid,” was part of Bill Clinton’s winning strategy for president in 1992. Well, the economy is important. It really controls reality for most people in this country. The economy dictates how many jobs a person has to have to feed the family. The economy dictates access to healthcare. The economy controls people’s ability to take care of basic needs like housing, food, healthcare, and transportation. It even influences what Christmas gifts will be given.
The economy controls the wellbeing of a vast majority of the population of our country. So, for politicians, the economy should be a main concern. Unfortunately, in recent decades, the economy has been doctored to make the rich richer. And, consequently, the poor, poorer. But the rich contribute to political campaigns, not the poor, so the preferences of the rich are catered to by politicians. They have to keep those donations flowing in.
And, of course, we have all kinds of data and charts and graphs documenting the state of things economically. They show that the wealth gap in America is growing not shrinking. And for those of us not inclined toward the analysis of economic data, there is the grocery store. You can get a pretty good read on things as you traverse the aisles with list in hand. And we know one thing for sure at the moment, prices are not going down. It is often cheaper for a family to get discounted meals at a fast food joint then go to the store and buy actual food and prepare it at home. No wonder America is having a health crisis.
This highlights something that I think is of interest in the Magnificat. The song of Mary is an economic manifesto. Mary refers to her own servile status. The proud, arrogant, and powerful are scattered. Those are the rich. You aren’t proud, arrogant, or powerful without money to back it up. And the rich are sent away empty. And the lowly are lifted up. That’s the poor. Those with little money, land, education, and access to power. Lifted up. Filled with good things.
This Magnificat is very much an economic manifesto. It doesn’t refer to gender, to race, to ethnicity. Fix the economy and many other problems are solved. There is the mention of promises fulfilled to God’s servant, Israel, in terms of economic well-being. A complete shift in the power structure. Based on economics. But it is for all, not just for some.
It’s all well and good to talk about how God loves everyone. It’s another thing to announce a complete toppling of current economic realities. That’s what Mary does. That’s what loving everyone amounts to.
Prayer: To much of the world, we are the haves. We are the ones with financial resources. Help us to be part of God’s economic revolution announced by Mary. Amen.
This devotion was prepared by Rev. Kim P. Wells, pastor of Lakewood United Church of Christ in St. Petersburg, FL.
Lakewood United Church of Christ 