THANK YOU, LORD!
Introduction
Today is a celebration of thanks to the Lord, who does great things to humble people who trust in Him. In the Old Testament, Hannah thanks God because he has given her a son. She dedicates him to God. Samuel will be a very great prophet of the Lord. And Mary, a young, humble, unassuming girl boldly sings out her joy and thanks to God who will upset the world’s values through Jesus, the Son to be born from her. With Hannah and Mary, we sing out our joy and thanks to God.
Opening Prayer
God of the little ones, with Mary, we rejoice and give you thanks that you let Jesus Christ become one of us and let him bring us the dignity of your sons and daughters. May we live up to that dignity and to the joy that says that we are deeply loved by you. Like you, may we also learn to care for all that is little and fragile and bring your justice to the poor through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen!
1 Reading: 1 Samuel 1:24-28
In those days, Hannah brought Samuel with her, along with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour, and a skin of wine, and presented him at the temple of the LORD in Shiloh. After the boy’s father had sacrificed the young bull, Hannah, his mother, approached Eli and said: “Pardon, my lord! As you live, my lord, I am the woman who stood near you here, praying to the LORD. I prayed for this child, and the LORD granted my request. Now I, in turn, give him to the LORD; as long as he lives, he shall be dedicated to the LORD.” She left Samuel there.
Responsorial Psalm 1 SAMUEL 2:1, 4-5, 6-7, 8ABCD
R. (cf. 1a) My heart exults in the Lord, my Saviour.
“My heart exults in the LORD, my horn is exalted in my God. I have swallowed up my enemies; I rejoice in my victory.” R.
“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.” R.
“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.” R.
“He raises the needy from the dust; from the dung heap he lifts up the poor, To seat them with nobles and make a glorious throne their heritage.” R.
Alleluia
R.Alleluia, alleluia. O King of all nations and keystone of the Church: come and save man, whom you formed from the dust! R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel: Luke 1:46-56
Mary said: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my saviour. for he has looked upon his lowly servant. From this day all generations will call me blessed: the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name. He has mercy on those who fear him in every generation. He has shown the strength of his arm, and has scattered the proud in their conceit. He has cast down the mighty from their thrones and has lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. He has come to the help of his servant Israel for he remembered his promise of mercy, the promise he made to our fathers, to Abraham and his children for ever.” Mary remained with Elizabeth about three months and then returned to her home.
Commentary
Hannah and Mary bear striking resemblances. In the birth of their respective sons, the power of God is made manifest, inspiring each of them to raise their voices in praise to the Almighty. In Mary’s case her hymn is the Magnificent, which is today’s Gospel. The canticle attributed to Hannah is today’s responsorial hymn.
But there is also a real difference between the two. Hannah was distraught over her sterility and had repeatedly asked God to gift her with a child. The favour was finally granted in her son Samuel. Mary had no immediate expectation of a child, although she was engaged to Joseph at the time of her election. She is advised by the heavenly messenger that she will have a son whose parentage she would share with God himself. It is the willingness of both women to see God as the source of their joy that is so apparent in today’s liturgy.
In what is likely a hymn of the early church, adapted to Mary’s sentiments, the Magnificent sets forth the basic virtue of the Nazareth virgin. The dominant note that is struck is the greatness of God at work in the order of redemption. But there is an added note here. Mary states that the God who is great has looked on the lowliness of his servant and decided to raise her up. She claims nothing for herself. She is simply a vessel that God has filled. Mary wants us simply to remember that “the Mighty One has done great things for me.”
Our era of instant gratification and media hype finds new heroes for us at every turn. Since everyone is entitled to his or her “fifteen minutes of fame,” the personalities range from academia to athletics. But as we sift through the daily news, it is well to remember that the forgotten people of our society often instruct the privileged. And we see a Christian response to misfortune in the people who contribute from their limited resources, volunteer in the IDPs, or work with battered people. The God who is mighty still calls on our Marys and Hannah. God elevates the lowly and brings down the strong. But do we take notice?
Intercessions
– For all the good things we have experienced in life we ask the Lord to accept our gratitude: Lord all thanks to you.
– For all who have received from God many talents and goods, that out of gratitude they may share them with others, we pray:
– For our faith, for our brothers and sisters in our Christian communities and for the presence of Christ among us, we give thanks:
Prayer over the Gifts
Lord, our God, we can bring before you no more than the humble gifts of bread and wine, which are after all, gifts coming from your hand. Do great things in them, and let them become Jesus, your Son among us. Let him stay with us, so that he, too, can do great marvels in us and through us, for he is our Lord now and for ever. Amen!
Prayer after Communion
Lord, our God, God of hope, accept our thanks and joy for your love and justice that come to us, however poor we are. Let your Son liberate us from our selfishness and cold greed. Weak as we are, let him give us the strength to make love and service the foundation of the new world he wants to begin with us. Thank you Lord, for all this joy through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen!
Blessing
With Mary we say: “the Almighty has done great things for us. Holy be his name.” May Almighty God keep blessing you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!