“He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.”
He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts — the mighty deeds with his arm echoes the Exodus language (Exodus 15:16 — your mighty arm). The scattering of the proud in their inmost thoughts is the first of the Magnificat's reversals: the proud (hyperēphanous, those who elevate themselves) are scattered — not merely humbled but dispersed. The pride is located in their inmost thoughts (dianoia, understanding, reasoning) — the intellectual pride that refuses to acknowledge God.
Church Fathers on Luke 1:51
In describing the state of mankind, she shows what the proud deserve, and what the humble; saying, He has shown strength with his arm, &c. i.e. with the very Son of God. For as your arm is that whereby you work, so the arm of God is said to be His word by whom He made the world
But to those that fear Him, He has done mighty things with His arm; though you come weak to God if you have feared Him you shall obtain the promised strength.
For in His arm, that is, His incarnate Son, He has shown strength, seeing that nature was vanquished, a virgin bringing forth, and God becoming man.
Read all 6 entries in the readerCatena Aurea · St. Thomas Aquinas, tr. J. H. Newman · public domain
COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS
Publish a reflection on this verse
No reflections on this verse yet. Be the first to write one!