Sally Cunneen in The Search for Mary
Mary did not compose
this prayer in a spontaneous burst of inspiration, as I used to
assume. Luke pieced together a mosaic of phrases from the Hebrew
Scriptures that are appropriate for Mary, words the real mother
of Jesus might have prayed. In his story, Luke particularly stresses
the antecedent of Hannah, mother of Samuel, who sang a similar
hymn of thanksgiving. . .for a long-desired son. . . [Luke] adds
echoes of . . .Judith . .{and] the language of Exodus and the Sinai
covenant. . .Mary did what the prophet Miriam did, sang a victory
song in praise of God's awesome accomplishment. . .
Luke's inclusion of Mary's Magnificat helps us to see Jesus as
Mary's son in his dedication to a Jewish tradition of justice and
prophecy. In his advocacy of the poor, which angered both Roman
rulers and high priests, he mirrored his mother's faithfulness.
Commentaries:
Rev. R. Roy Baines, St. David's Episcopal:
"The
Birth of the Messiah."
Sally Cunneen, Catholic feminist scholar
"In
Search of Mary": A mosaic in the Jewish
tradition of justice and prophecy.
Brother Barnabas: Ronald D. Curley
Of St. Anthony's Retreat; Florence,
Montana
"The
Magnificat of Mary, Our Mother"
Rabbi Geoffrey Dennis; Kol Ami Congregation, Flower Mound
"Luke's
rendering recalls Old Testament traditions."
Rev. Alton Donsbach, ret. pastor of St. Paul Lutheran:
Reflections
on the Magnificat
Kay Kolb & Pat Miller, School Sisters of Notre Dame:
"Its
many themes touch people's real lives."
