Reading today's responsorial Psalm, a canticle from the First Book of Samuel, we sense the similarity with phrases from Mary's Magnificat. This is not surprising, for in Jesus' time the Bible played a larger part in Jewish life that we can now appreciate: The Bible provided their learning and spiritual formation. So, then, the prayers of Zechariah and Mary in Luke's Gospel naturally echo many Old Testament thoughts and phrases. This "echoing" occurs especially when the New Testament stories are similar in content or context to those of the Old Testament. The stories of the birth of a child born somewhat miraculously as a result of prayer or of God's promise naturally influenced the New Testament narratives of the birth of John the Baptist and of Jesus. Similarly, it is not surprising that, when he was dying on the cross, Jesus prayed a psalm.

The Psalms especially express many themes of Old Testament spirituality. Sometimes the words and sentiments of the Psalms do not fit well with our Christian faith. Apart from the content, however, we can learn much from the intention and purpose of the Psalm to foster our own prayer.