4th Week of Advent, Wednesday – 22nd December 2021 — Gospel: Lk 1,46-56
God of the Anawim
The Mary’s hymn of praise reveals God primarily as a God of the poor. God is the one who will vindicate the poor by removing the rich and mighty from their positions and raising the lowly. God has shown his mercy and goodness to the poor by showing the strength of his arm, by scattering the proud, and deposing the powerful. The poor, on the other hand, have been raised, and the hungry have been filled. God remembers not only those of old but also the present generation. He is a God not only of the past, but also a God of the present, the now. The hymn may be seen to be divided into four parts. The first part consists of praise to God for what he has done in and for Mary. The second part speaks of God’s power, holiness and mercy. The third part shows God acting as a Sovereign in reversing social conditions in favour of the poor and downtrodden. The fourth part recalls God’s mercy and promises to Israel.
In a world where the rich seem to be getting richer and the poor, poorer, one wonders whether the Magnificat is a hymn that can make sense to the poor, to those of low degree. Yet, it is important to remember that God’s ways are not our ways and so, the poor must, in confidence, sing this song as their song. Mary’s song expresses her confidence. She uses past tense to denote God’s future actions. Thus, expressing that God will indeed accomplish His will, and the poor will be vindicated.
