The Magnificat

The gospel of Luke has collected a number of prayers in the first 2 chapters. There are the Ave Maria (Luke 1:28) by angel Gabriel; the Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55) by Our Lady; the Benedictus Deus (Luke 1:68-79) by Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist; the Gloria (Luke 2:14) by the angelic host; the Nunc Dimittis (Luke 2:29-35) by Simeon. Those names are in Latin. They are the first one or two words of the songs. Today, we come to the Magnificat. I was struck by the similarity between this prayer/song with that of Hannah, the mother of Samuel. Before we proceed to reflect on the messages of the Magnificat, let me copy the Latin Vulgate version in full for my reference.
magnificat anima mea Dominum
et exultavit spiritus meus in Deo salutari meo
quia respexit humilitatem ancillae suae ecce enim ex hoc beatam me dicent omnes generationes
quia fecit mihi magna qui potens est et sanctum nomen eius
et misericordia eius in progenies et progenies timentibus eum
fecit potentiam in brachio suo dispersit superbos mente cordis sui
deposuit potentes de sede et exaltavit humiles
esurientes implevit bonis et divites dimisit inanes
suscepit Israhel puerum suum memorari misericordiae
sicut locutus est ad patres nostros Abraham et semini eius in saecula (Luke 1:46-55).
Mary praised the Lord because He had done great things for her.
for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name (Luke 1:49).
This Lord definitely works for the poor and the humble against the rich and the powerful. This is the key message of the Magnificat.
In the first book of Samuel, we have a similar song by Hannah, the mother of Samuel. Here it is.
"My heart exults in the LORD; my strength is exalted in the LORD. My mouth derides my enemies, because I rejoice in thy salvation.
"There is none holy like the LORD, there is none besides thee; there is no rock like our God.
Talk no more so very proudly, let not arrogance come from your mouth;
for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.
The bows of the mighty are broken, but the feeble gird on strength.
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.
The LORD kills and brings to life; he brings down to Sheol and raises up. The LORD makes poor and makes rich; he brings low, he also exalts.
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 LORD'S, and on them he has set the world.
"He will guard the feet of his faithful ones; but the wicked shall be cut off in darkness; for not by might shall a man prevail. The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces; against them he will thunder in heaven. The LORD will judge the ends of the earth; he will give strength to his king, and exalt the power of his anointed (1 Samuel 2:1-10).
In the prayer of Hannah, the Lord did not favour the poor and the needy as much as the Magnificat did. The Lord was neutral in the sense that He took care of both the rich and the poor in the spirit of Matthew 6. At least, this was how Hannah, or the Israelites at that time understood their God.
The LORD kills and brings to life; he brings down to Sheol and raises up. The LORD makes poor and makes rich; he brings low, he also exalts (1 Samuel 2:6-7).When the Christians first appeared, their perception of God had evolved. God opted for the poor.
Today, we only have the Greek, Latin, English, Chinese and versions of the Magnificat in different modern languages. But Mary was supposed to speak in Hebrew or Aramaic. I wonder how the prayer was sung in Hebrew/Aramaic.

My Lord, May our souls be filled with Your Holy Spirit and lifted up as Mary did. We are really lucky because of our poverty. You like to show Your mercy and greatness on us, lowly creatures. Let us praise You in Your house, forever and ever. Amen.