Word to the Wise
Friday, December 22, 2017 -
[1 Samuel 1:24-28 and Luke 1:46-56]"My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior. For he has looked upon his lowly servant. From this day all generations will call me blessed: the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name." [Luke]
DECEMBER 22, 2017 [801st anniversary of the founding of the Dominican Order - the Order of Preachers]
The Canticle of Mary, known traditionally as the Magnificat, is a hymn of praise that Mary proclaims in response to Elizabeth's greeting. In this, she is joined by Hannah in the first scripture from 1 Samuel, which is not included, but follows on that particular passage (1 Samuel 2:1-10). In short, the evangelist, Luke, borrowed quite a bit of the canticle from that source. Hannah rejoices at her unexpected pregnancy and the birth of Samuel, who would become a great prophet. Scripture scholars have long pointed out that the "infancy narratives" in the gospels of Matthew and Luke serve as a kind of overture to each of those gospels with themes that will appear later on. The Magnificat and the Benedictus [Canticle of Zechariah which appears a few verses later] are like arias that highlight those themes.
Throughout both these canticles human cooperation with God's promises and plan of salvation is clear. Mary and John the Baptist are pivotal characters, but they get their importance from the central figure, Jesus, who is the fulfillment of God's promises. Mary gives birth to Jesus. John would proclaim him at the beginning of Jesus' ministry. Proclamation appears in the shepherds and Magi as well. As these voices proclaim God's promise fulfilled to us as people of faith in this season, can we do the same? Can we allow ourselves to be "shouted down" by the secular HO-HO-HO? At Easter, we proclaim, "Christ is risen!" At Christmas, we proclaim "Christ is born!" That is the reason for the season! AMEN