In this ongoing series covering St. Mary’s Song of Praise (Luke 1:46-55), we have previously discussed God’s humility, mercy, and power. Today, we will focus on God’s justice, a theme that strongly resonates in the final verses of the Song of Mary, from verses 53-55.
Let’s begin with verse 53, “He has filled the hungry with good things, And sent the rich away empty-handed.” The hungry symbolizes those who hunger for God; it is not a physical but a spiritual hunger. The hungry here represent the Gentiles, who, unlike the Jews, did not taste the sweetness of God. This verse can also be taken in a spiritual sense for our own edification. The theme of those hungry and thirsty representing those who yearn for God is present throughout Scripture. We read that when we deprive ourselves of God’s grace, we become thirsty like a “dry and weary land where there is no water.” (Psalms 63:1). The way to quench our hunger and thirst, however, is not through things of the world, but through the word of God and this is portrayed in Isaiah 55 when God says, “Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy, and eat! … Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; (Isaiah 55:1-3). Notice how the inspired Scriptures connect quenching hunger and thirst through listening to God’s word. St. Mary did exactly so; she accepted God’s grace and fulfilled the prophecy in Psalm 45:10: “Hear, O daughter, and consider, and incline your ear: forget your people and your father’s house.” God is indeed just in that He does not impose his grace on us but continually invites us to quench our spiritual hunger and thirst through His word.
The following two verses, “He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his offspring forever.” (Luke 1: 54-55)”, remind us that God is just because He keeps his promises. St. Cyril of Alexandria explains two interpretations of the meaning of His servant Israel. The first is that Israel refers to the spiritual Israel or those who “look unto God, and believe in Him, and obtain through the Son the adoption of sons, according to the Word that was spoken, and the promise made to the prophets and patriarchs of old.” However, there is also a second application interpreting Israel in the fleshly sense, meaning the Jews themselves since God promised Abraham that his seed would be blessed (Genesis 17).
In the Song of Mary, God’s justice isn’t about legality or punishments; it’s more related to God’s character of keeping His promises, offering grace continually and freely, and inviting us to satisfy our spiritual hunger and thirst through His word. May we answer God’s unceasing invitation as our Mother St Mary did and live according to His word.
Sources:
- Bible, English Standard Version
- Fr Tadros Yacoub Malaty, Commentary on Luke
- Catena, Commentary on Luke 1:54, St Cyril of Alexandria