Commentary on the Gospel of
The Gospel today conveys great sentiments of thanksgiving, praise and acknowledging God’s mighty works in favour of the poor and the weak. The song of Mary was one of the canticles of the community of the first Christians. It expressed the consciousness and the firmness of the faith
which animated her interiorly. Sung in the community, this Canticle of Mary teaches us to pray and to sing. Mary’s reason for singing magnificat was her experience of God’s mercy shown in favour of the unworthy and unprivileged and in giving victory to the humble. She sings of the fidelity of God toward His people and proclaims the change which the arm of the Lord was realizing on behalf of the poor and the hungry. Her proclamation, at the same time, is a deep insight into God's own plan for humanity. Her song announces the birth of Christ, a new beginning and new way of freedom for people who will centre their lives on God and his ways.
The Magnificat can be taken as a prayer to be imitated. Mary is aware of God’s greatness and proclaims it. Her focus is God. Prayer is seeking the other. God recognized her humility in that attitude. In prayer we place God and ourselves in the place where they belong. God’s mercy is everlasting for it never ends as he extends it to those who live in his presence. The expression “arm of God” reminds us of the liberation of the Exodus. This is the force of salvation and of liberation of Yahweh which bring about the changes: He has routed the arrogant of heart (Lk 1:51); He has pulled down princes from their thrones and raised up the lowly (Lk 1:52); He has filled the starving with good things, sent the rich away empty (Lk 1:53).
As we approach the birth of the Saviour, our attitude of sharing should move to a more intense communicating of God's love made man to others through concrete gestures.
