ADVENT TIP OF THE DAY 17: Four canticles of Luke

MJ. Smith

I am adding these posts to the previous tip list L/V 10 Tip of the Day 

QUESTION: Name the four canticles of Luke.

ANSWER: from Logos/Verbum Smart search synopsis:

The four canticles of Luke, found in the Gospel of Luke, are the Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55), the Benedictus (Luke 1:68-79), the Gloria (often associated with Luke 2:14), and the Nunc Dimittis (Luke 2:29-32). These canticles are poetic hymns or songs embedded within Luke's infancy narrative. According to one article, they were likely taken over in Greek by Luke and inserted into the narrative because they fit well with the characters to whom he attributed them. Some scholars suggest that these canticles originated among early Jewish Christians, possibly in Jerusalem. The language of composition remains a debated issue, with some arguing for an original Hebrew or Aramaic version, while others contend they were composed in Greek. In the liturgical context, three of these canticles (Benedictus, Magnificat, and Nunc Dimittis) became associated with specific hours of the daily Office in Christian worship: Lauds, Vespers, and Compline, respectively.1

QUESTION: Compare the Magnificat and Hannah’s Psalm.

ANSWER: from Women in the Scriptures

Mary’s Psalm (Luke 1:46-55)	Hannah’s Psalm (1 Samuel 2:1-10)
My soul doth magnify the Lord,	… mine horn is exalted in the Lord
And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.	My heart rejoiceth in the Lord… my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation.
For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.	Hannah calls herself a “handmaiden” in 1 Samuel 1:11.
For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.	There is none holy as the Lord: for there is none beside thee:
And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.	..for the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s, and he hath set the world upon them.
…he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.	…The Lord maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up.
He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.	…The bows of the mighty men are broken, and they that stumbled are girded with strength.
He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.	They that were full have hired out themselves for bread; and they that were hungry ceased:
He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy;	He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail…
As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.	…and he shall give strength unto his king, and exalt the horn of his anointed.

QUESTION: Show the scriptural basis of the Benedictus?

ANSWER: from Perplexity:

Benedictus Text	Scriptural References
"Blessed be the Lord God of Israel"	Psalm 41:13; 72:18; 106:48
"He has visited and redeemed his people"	Psalm 111:9
"He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David"	Psalm 18:2; 132:17
"As he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old"	Jeremiah 1:9; Zechariah 8:9
"Salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us"	Psalm 106:10
"To show mercy to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant"	Psalm 98:3; Micah 7:20
"The oath which he swore to our father Abraham"	Genesis 22:16-18
"To grant us that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear"	Jeremiah 30:9-10
"In holiness and righteousness before him all our days"	Psalm 15:2
"And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High"	Isaiah 40:3; Malachi 3:1
"To give knowledge of salvation to his people by the forgiveness of their sins"	Jeremiah 31:34; Isaiah 53:5
"Because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high"	Malachi 4:2; Isaiah 60:1
"To give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death"	Isaiah 9:2; Psalm 107:14
"To guide our feet into the way of peace"	Isaiah 59:8

QUESTION: Show the scriptural basis of the Gloria?

ANSWER: from Perplexity:

Text of the Gloria	Scripture References
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.	Micah 5:5, Matthew 21:9, Luke 2:13, Luke 19:38, Acts 10:36, Ephesians 1:9, Philippians 2:13

The Gloria, also known as the Angels' Gloria, is a short but powerful verse sung by angels to announce Jesus' birth to the shepherds. This concise hymn of praise encapsulates key theological themes and has significant biblical connections.

Scriptural Reflections

1. Glory to God: This phrase echoes similar expressions found in Matthew 21:9 and Luke 19:38, where crowds praise Jesus during his triumphal entry into Jerusalem.

2. Peace on Earth: This concept is reflected in Micah 5:5, which speaks of the coming Messiah as a bringer of peace. It's also echoed in Acts 10:36, where the gospel is described as "the message of peace through Jesus Christ".

3. Good Will Toward Men: This idea of God's favor is reflected in Ephesians 1:9 and Philippians 2:13, which speak of God's good pleasure and will being worked out among his people.

It's worth noting that there are variations in how this verse is translated in different Bible versions. Some translations, based on different Greek manuscripts, render the last part as "peace to those on whom his favor rests" (NIV) or "peace among those with whom he is pleased" (ESV). This variation highlights the ongoing scholarly discussion about the precise wording and meaning of this angelic proclamation.

QUESTION: Show the scriptural basis of the Nunc Dimittis?

ANSWER: from Perplexity:

The Nunc Dimittis, also known as the Song of Simeon, is a beautiful canticle found in the Gospel of Luke. Here's a table showing the text of the Nunc Dimittis alongside the scriptures it reflects:

Nunc Dimittis Text	Scripture References
Now, Master, you let your servant go in peace. You have fulfilled your promise.	Luke 2:29
My own eyes have seen your salvation,	Luke 2:30; Isaiah 52:10
which you have prepared in the sight of all peoples.	Luke 2:31
A light to bring the Gentiles from darkness; the glory of your people Israel.	Luke 2:32; Isaiah 49:6

This canticle, uttered by Simeon upon seeing the infant Jesus in the temple, is rich with biblical allusions. It reflects God's promise of salvation and the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah. The reference to "a light to bring the Gentiles from darkness" particularly echoes Isaiah's prophecy about the Messiah being a light to the nations.

1 Raymond E. Brown, The Birth of the Messiah: A Commentary on the Infancy Narratives in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, New Updated Edition. (New York; London: Yale University Press, 1993), 643. and Anne Dawtry and Carolyn Headley, “Canticles in the Main Volume,” in A Companion to Common Worship, ed. Paul Bradshaw, vol. 1, Alcuin Club Collections (London: SPCK, 2001), 242. and Robin A. Leaver, Luther’s Liturgical Music: Principles and Implications, ed. Paul Rorem, Lutheran Quarterly Books (Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press, 2017), 243.