Encore Post: St. Luke wrote his Gospel and the Book of Acts in polished, carefully constructed Greek. The Introductions to both books are in well-balanced, formal language, like the best of ancient classical history. But when he begins the story of Jesus, he writes in the Greek of the Septuagint — the translation of the Old Testament read in the synagogues where Jesus and his disciples grew up. It would be like reading a novel that starts in New York, writing with a Brooklyn accent, and, when the scene changes to Dallas, it speaks with a Texas twang and vocabulary.
As Luke weaves the story, he recalls several canticles — New Testament psalms really — sung by various persons in it. The result is much like a modern musical. The Church picked up on this. We sing them in worship and have done so for more than 1600 years.
Called by the first few words of these songs in Latin, they are:
Mary’s song, the Magnificat. We sing it during Vespers.
Zechariah’s song, the Benedictus, sung in morning services.
The Christmas Angel’s song, the Gloria, sung in the Divine Service — When the Lord’s Supper is served.
And Simeon’s Song, the Nunc Dimmitis, also sung during Divine Service.
These songs of joy, celebrating the births of the Messiah and the prophet who announced him are now our songs, too, not just at Christmas, but the whole year.
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Delightful insights! Luke even lets John the Baptizer get into “the act” with a song from Isaiah. Jesus Himself pulls out several “cameo” appearances of prophetic songs and Psalms, and His Beattitudes inspired many musical renditions.
Thank you! I’m hoping to get another out before Sunday, when Pastor Hercamp has one on the Nativity of St. John the Baptist going out.