MY SOUL MAGNIFIES THE LORD…

1 Samuel 1:24-28

24 And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, along with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour, and a skin of wine; and she brought him to the house of the LORD at Shiloh; and the child was young. 25 Then they slew the bull, and they brought the child to Eli.
26 And she said, “Oh, my lord! As you live, my lord, I am the woman who was standing here in your presence, praying to the LORD.
27 For this child I prayed; and the LORD has granted me my petition which I made to him.28 Therefore I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he lives, he is lent to the LORD.” And they worshipped the LORD there.

Luke 1:46-56

46 And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48 for he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden. For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed;
49 for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.
50 And his mercy is on those who fear him from generation to generation.
51 He has shown strength with his arm, he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts,52 he has put down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted those of low degree; 53 he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent empty away.
54 He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, 55 as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his posterity for ever.”56 And Mary remained with her about three months, and returned to her home.  

MEDITATION

THE FIRST READING tells the story of Hannah the barren wive of Elkanah whose perseverance and faithfulness paid off when she was eventually gifted with a son who was named Samuel. Once Hannah’s child was weaned off this mother’s milk, she took him to the Temple and presented three food elements to Eli the priest who offered up these gifts at the altar. Hannah then does the extraordinary work of love and charity when she so to speak, gave her son away to be in service of Eli the temple high priest. This story Typologically prefigure the NT Eucharistic Thanksgiving offering of Christ Jesus to us His people.

THE GOSPEL READING: 

Catec 722 The Holy Spirit prepared Mary by his grace. It was fitting that the mother of him in whom “the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily” should herself be “full of grace.” She was, by sheer grace, conceived without sin as the most humble of creatures, the most capable of welcoming the inexpressible gift of the Almighty. It was quite correct for the angel Gabriel to greet her as the “Daughter of Zion”: “Rejoice.” It is the thanksgiving of the whole People of God, and thus of the Church, which Mary in her canticle lifts up to the Father in the Holy Spirit while carrying within her the eternal Son.

Catec 2619 That is why the Canticle of Mary, the Magnificat (Latin) or Megalynei (Byzantine) is the song both of the Mother of God and of the Church; the song of the Daughter of Zion and of the new People of God; the song of thanksgiving for the fullness of graces poured out in the economy of salvation and the song of the “poor” whose hope is met by the fulfillment of the promises made to our ancestors, “to Abraham and to his posterity for ever.”

Mary’s canticle-a song of praise-is an intercessory thanksgiving prayer for the work of God’s grace and mercy that was gifted to her. We the spiritual children of Mary the mother of God must diminish so that Christ may be magnified as we also offer up ourselves to be in service of Him and His Church in thanksgiving for the many blessings and graces we have received in our lives.

LET US PRAY: 1 Samuel 2:1,4-8

1 Hannah also prayed and said, “My heart exults in the LORD; my strength is exalted in the LORD. My mouth derides my enemies, because I rejoice in thy salvation.
4 The bows of the mighty are broken, but the feeble gird on strength.
5 Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread, but those who were hungry have ceased to hunger. The barren has borne seven, but she who has many children is forlorn.
6 The LORD kills and brings to life; he brings down to Sheol and raises up.
7 The LORD makes poor and makes rich; he brings low, he also exalts.
8 He raises up the poor from the dust; he lifts the needy from the ash heap, to make them sit with princes and inherit a seat of honor. For the pillars of the earth are the LORDS, and on them he has set the world.

Author. Henry R SYLVESTER 
Note: The daily scripture readings are taken from the Roman Missal which the Catholic Church use in the daily Celebration of the Holy Eucharist throughout the world.Some weekly readings may differ because of the celebration of local feast days.