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Biblical scholars readily point out that the
Magnificat is Mary's response to God and the acknowledgement of Elizabeth's
praise of her as being blessed among all women. The three parts to the
prayer, (1) the praise of God, (2) the reasons why God should be praised,
and (3) a conclusion which repeats the elements of the body, recall the
psalmist tradition of prayer. Mary, a Jewish woman, expresses joy for her
people because God has remembered the promise of mercy to all faithful
people and to her.
There is a radical notion that emerges from
reflection on this prayer. To realize that God overturns the mighty, the
powerful, the arrogant, the rulers and the wealthy, but blesses greatly the
lowly, the humble, the hungry and those in need of help, invite those who
pray with Mary to a radical way of living that starts with rejoicing in the
mercy of God and the acknowledgement that God will do great things for the
humble. Later in the gospel of Luke, Jesus will say that his mission is to
accept the anointing of the Spirit to bring glad tidings to the poor, to
proclaim liberty to captives, to give sight to the blind and to release
prisoners[8]. In this prayer of Mary we get the initial sense that God is a
God of liberation. Mary and Jesus understand their personal mission as
connected to these liberating actions of God's Spirit.
In the Black religious tradition women such as
Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth and countless others, lived and died for the
liberation of their people. Sustaining the community and oneself in freedom
is understood in the Black tradition as a gift promised and insured by a
loving God. Recently, this tradition was expressed again by the Catholic
Theologian Diana Hayes. At a conference entitled "Uncommon Faithfulness: The
Witness of African American Catholics,"
[9] Diana Hayes offered reflections
on biblical women and the Womanist movement. Her insights about Mary were
focused on this prayer of Mary as prayer of liberation which Black Catholics
could appreciate since liberation has been and remains a goal for Black
Catholics.
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