comes to a halt for the purpose of entering more deeply into the significance of the events already recounted. As prophetic songs (see 1:67), they comment on the events of these first two chapters but also look forward to the whole of Luke’s Gospel and Acts. In particular, Mary’s song announces the great reversal that is unfolding as God raises up the lowly (v. 52).23 This reversal will be seen later in the Beatitudes and woes (6:20–26) and in Jesus’ teaching that “everyone who exalts himself will