God has cast down the mighty from their thrones and has lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. These words from Mary’s prayer (usually called the Magnificat after its first word in Latin) serve as a reminder that the coming of Jesus was not meant solely for one’s individual salvation. In proclaiming the “kingdom of God” Jesus expected that the presence of God in the world would change the structures of injustice and inequality. Mary’s prayer shows that right from the beginning a world transformed was what we should look for with the birth of her son. As we rejoice at Christmas let us be challenged to bring about a peace-filled world.
