Cyril of Alexandria on the Magnificat

Today's Gospel was the Magnificat (see previous post). St Cyril of Alexandria (c.375 - 444) offers a typically forthright interpretation in his Commentary on Luke:

1:51. He hath shewed strength with His arm: He hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their heart.

The arm enigmatically signifies the Word that was born of her: and by the proud, Mary means the wicked demons who with their prince fell through pride....

For these, when openly claiming mastery over the world, the Lord by His coming scattered, and transferred those whom they had made captive unto His own dominion....

1:52. He hath put down riders from their thrones, and exalted the humble.

Great used to he the haughtiness of these demons whom He scattered, and of the devil....

But He put them down, and exalted those who had humbled themselves under their mighty hand, "having given them authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and upon all the power of the enemy".

And He made the plots against us of these haughty-minded beings of none effect.