Luke 1:39 - Exegesis & Sermon for Preaching Class

NRSV:

39 In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, 40where she entered the house 
of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leapt in her womb. And Elizabeth 
was filled with the Holy Spirit 42and exclaimed with a loud cry, ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit 
of your womb. 43And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? 44For as soon as I heard the 
sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leapt for joy. 45And blessed is she who believed that there would be* a ful-
filment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.’

46 And Mary* said,
‘My soul magnifies the Lord,
47   and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour,
48 for he has looked with favour on the lowliness of his servant.
   Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me,
   and holy is his name.
50 His mercy is for those who fear him
   from generation to generation.
51 He has shown strength with his arm;
   he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
52 He has brought down the powerful from their thrones,
   and lifted up the lowly;
53 he has filled the hungry with good things,
   and sent the rich away empty.
54 He has helped his servant Israel,
   in remembrance of his mercy,
55 according to the promise he made to our ancestors,
   to Abraham and to his descendants for ever.’

56 And Mary remained with her for about three months and then returned to her home.

Exegesis

1. Select the text: Text assigned by instructor (Luke 1:39-56). My tradition is to use the lectionary.
2. Reconsider where the text begins and ends: The Magnificat was added to the original passage at the request of several students. The passage begins with "in those days" marking it as transition point.
3. Establish a reliable translation of the text:
4. Read the text for basic understanding:
5. Place the text in its larger contexts:
6. Listen atentively to the text (Brainstorming):
7. Explore the text historically:
8. Explore the literary character of the text:
9. Explore the text theologically:
10. Check the text in the commentaries:
11. State the claim of the text upon the hearers:

Resources

• Catholic Encyclopedia Article on Magnificat