A Mother’s Song
There are striking and rich similarities between The Magnificat sung by Mary in Luke, and Hannah’s Song from First Samuel. Both of them are decidedly role-reversing. In the past, many have commented on the political nature of this reversal. While that is an unavoidable reading, there is also a deep domestic insight: God as Mother.
This is not it an attempt to presume the proper role of women in the modern world. All I mean is this: A good mother often has the wonderful ability to the invert the roles and presumptions one finds in a home. My wife reminds me of just how stupid I am, just when I begin to think I am clever. (She also tells me to take hope when I am despondent.) My mother would often advocate for the younger-one who was being picked on by us, the cruel elder-siblings. In my life-long experiences in schools and churches, I have been humbled and challenged by feminine compassion. Time and time again, I have seen the unique genius of women in reversing power-dialectics to weigh in favor of those who are disenfranchised or who simply need some help.
The Church’s preferential option for the poor—based, in part, on these scriptural sources—is a sign of the feminine, maternal genius of God our Mother.
Below, take some time to reflect on these two songs by these two mother’s who speak of God—using male pronouns, in English at least—in a distinctly feminine way. There are other aspects of these rich passages too, but that is the one I wanted to highlight in this reflection:
The Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55)
“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior. For he has looked upon his handmaid’s lowliness; behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed. The Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is from age to age to those who fear him. He has shown might with his arm, dispersed the arrogant of mind and heart. He has thrown down the rulers from their thrones but lifted up the lowly. The hungry he has filled with good things; the rich he has sent away empty. He has helped Israel his servant, remembering his mercy, according to his promise to our fathers, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”
Hannah’s Song (1 Samuel 2:1-10)
“My heart exults in the LORD, my horn is exalted in my God. I have swallowed up my enemies; I rejoice in my victory. There is no Holy One like the LORD; there in no Rock like our God. “Speak boastfully no longer, nor let arrogance issue from your mouths. For an all-knowing God is the LORD, a God who judges deeds. The bows of the mighty are broken, while the tottering gird on strength. The well-fed hire themselves out for bread, while the hungry batten on spoil. The barren wife bears seven sons, while the mother of many languishes. “The LORD puts to death and gives life; he casts down to the nether world; he raises up again. The LORD makes poor and makes rich, he humbles, he also exalts. He raises the needy from the dust; from the ash heap he lifts up the poor, To seat them with nobles and make a glorious throne their heritage. He gives to the vower his vow, and blesses the sleep of the just. “For the pillars of the earth are the LORD’S, and he has set the world upon them. He will guard the footsteps of his faithful ones,
but the wicked shall perish in the darkness. For not by strength does man prevail; the LORD’S foes shall be shattered. The Most High in heaven thunders; The LORD judges the ends of the earth, Now may he give strength to his king, and exalt the horn of his anointed!”
Comments are closed.
I’m not sure just how political the verses are. I remeber back in teh 1970′s hearing a liberal protestant minister quoting teh Magnificat and saying that is Mary were alive today she would be burning her bra.
That strikes me as trivial. The Magnificat shows us how God’s way, vis a vis the world is far more revolutionary than anything we can devise.
I also hae to say that the images of God presented here strikeme as being generally masculine, even the refence to feeding the hungry.
David,
I would largely agree with your first paragraph. And I especially agree with this:
“The Magnificat shows us how God’s way, vis a vis the world is far more revolutionary than anything we can devise.”
That is why trying to bring this “down to earth” runs a huge risk, as I see it. This is largely why I steer away from writing those reflection—although I do think and imagine them alot.
On your reading of feeding the hungry, though, I see the Madonna feeding Christ,and the Church, at her sacred breast.
Thanks for reading.
Sam
Sam, I am married now for 35 years and I love my wife more than ever. She is God’s Gift of Love to me. Before I knew her as God’s Gift in 2005 I knew her as “my living conscience”. She returned to the faith 9 years before I did and never gave me a hard time about it. I did learn that she prayed all those years for my return.
Gottman’s research at the U of WA identified 7 qualities that contribute to a successful marriage. The major one in my opinion is that the woman has more influence over the man-particularly in one area-, and, that is in her ability to teach him empathy.
What I have also learned from my Gift is the harm done to her as a woman when violence or threat of violence in any form enters her awareness. She cannot observe natural disasters, war, threats of war, poverty, homelessness, isolation, etc., without suffering herself. She resonates with their suffering. Without her I am not the man I am today.
There is something very distressing when a woman descends and mutates to the earthly level of a man’s aggressive or passive-aggressive relationship with humanity and creation.
Bible study is not my forte, so Hannah’s song was something new. I read the through the two songs a few times thinking of God as a mother. Your juxtaposition of a mother’s actions as you grew up really helped me get in the correct mindset. However, as I read I couldn’t help but see the actions of God as one of a Father. Father’s feed their children, stand up for the rights of the young ones, and guard all of their children. One thing I kept coming back to was:
“The barren wife bears seven sons, while the mother of many languishes. “The LORD puts to death and gives life;”
Giving life is such a key part of femininity, only a woman can birth a child. However, God the Father also gives life. Now my question is, is it God as our mother who gives us life or can God give us life as a father because he is God?
Ronald, thanks—as always.
Cecilia (my little sister!), there is no doubt that these passages are deeply masculine, and even patriarchal. My intent here is not to dissuade you, or anyone else, of that. As a general matter of reading scripture, I think that multiple interpretations of a text is important. It is like learning to live in the flux of being human.