Browsing by Author "Kinyua, Basilio"

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    Magnificat: A Way of Evangelizing.
    (Tangaza University College, 2001-02) Kinyua, Basilio
    Why did I choose the topic, "Maginificat: A way of Evangelizing"? Well, it is not easy to say, but there are two reasons that I am convinced made me choose it. First of all after taking the course in "Luke-Acts", I agree with those who hold that the evangelist Luke is a missionary preacher. I feel that anyone reading Luke-Acts as Luke intended it to be read cannot avoid being evangelized or taking the text to evangelize others. "Ibis is because in Luke-Acts the evangelist Luke has shown how God fulfilled his promises to Israel in the person and mission of Jesus, and through the gift of the I loly Spirit (starting with the Pentecostal event in Acts 2) the fruits of the Christ-event are extended to the whole world, symbolized by the preaching of the Good News in the city of Rome. Jesus is the Ilniversal Savior. Luke has shown how By divine providence a Gospel that had its beginning in Jerusalem II k 24, Acts 11, the capital of Judaism, ultimately came to Rome, the capital of the Gentile world Vets 281. The Gentiles addressed by Luke-Acts could thus be assured that their acceptance of Jesus was no accident or aberration but part of God's plan reaching back to creation, a plan that ultimately includes the conversion of the whole Roman world. Also although they were evangelized by those who had not seen Jesus, the gospel they received went back to "eyewitnesses and ministers of the word" [cf. Lk I : I -4]. 2 It seems to me therefore that interpreting properly any passage in Luke-Acts one should be in touch with the Lucan presentation of Jesus as the Savior of Israel and the Savior of all peoples. Secondly. I believe that Mary can help us to know Jesus better and love him as our God and our brother because she is the only human person who knew Jesus more intimately than any other by the very fad of having conceived him both in the womb and in the mind, that is. because of her divine motherhood and her pure faith in Jesus (Lk 1:26-38). Therefore, in this paper I purpose to study the text of the Magnifica' (Lk.1: 46- 55) and apply it to the Church's life and mission in the world today. My hypothesis is that the words of Mary in the Magnifica( (1,k.1: 46-55) contain the freshness, joy and concerns which, should characterize the response of the disciples to the Good News of the salvation brought by Jesus Christ the Son of God and the Son of Mary. The hymn of Mary expresses joy. praise and thanksgiving to God for what he has done for her and for the world by becoming a human being in her womb. It is an expression of joy and wonder at the extent and depth of God's solicitude for the destiny of humanity and an example of how human beings can respond authentically to God's gift of salvation. I want to see whether a deep study and prayerful meditation on the words of Mary (the first disciple of the one whom she carried in her womb) in the Magnificat can inspire the Church to continuously be aware of its identity and its mission in the world. Due to the nature of the research the method will be at the same time exegetical. descriptive, analytical and synthetic. In the First chapter I shall briefly look at the composition of the hymn. Was it composed by Mary or by Luke? The second chapter will be an exegetical study of the text, in which a synthesis will be made of the intention of the evangelist, and the possible interpretations of the same text by the Church Fathers and the Teaching Magisterium. and contemporary theologians. In the third chapter I shall apply the fruits of the preceding chapters to the life and mission of the Church today.