We Protestants don’t know what to do with Mary. Because the doctrines of the Catholic church have turned Mary into a sweet passive icon of virginal purity, we Protestants have been content to leave her out of our gallery of biblical saints — except of course, for her obligatory appearance in our Christmas pageants.

Today in both scripture and song, we meet Mary again. The woman we meet this time is no quiescent vessel. Lifting up the radical reversals of God’s vision, this Mary predicts a revolution — the revolution that Jesus’ life and message will bring to the world. She reminds us that what will be — already is. The future is already present because God is in charge of the world. We have a choice. We can either get with the program and help God complete this revolution, or we will find…