Reflection
How do I begin?
To be honest, I struggled with this passage. The Magnificat is both a testimony to Mary’s humility and acceptance of God blessing her with the awesome responsibility of bringing Jesus into the world. But Mary does not stop here. Her testimony goes further, glorifying God for lifting the lowly, filling the hungry with good things, and casting the mighty from their thrones.
In time, I came to see the insights into the present day in the Magnificat. The wondrous “Great Reversal,” a radical shift away from the trappings of worldly success. Does wealth matter in a starving world? How do thrones matter in a world where so many remain marginalized and alienated from these seats of power? What is the meaning of comfort when so many lack basic safety and security?
Perhaps wealth, position, and comfort matter when you use these to uplift our suffering world. To be more like Mackenzie Scott, giving freely to bring comfort and support to those who have been overlooked. To be more like Bishop Pham, accompanying the journey of the immigrant seeking a better future. To be more like Mary, humble in her task of fulfilling God’s will and accepting His grace to see the work done.
The Magnificat prodded me to consider another moving passage, Micah 6:8: “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” I’ve used my interpretation of this passage to end many talks I’ve given to students, faculty, and administrators over the years.
I’ve told students that at the end of their college journey, my hope is that they become people who act with compassion, lead with integrity, and live for justice. I’ve reminded many faculty and administrators that our mission is to form students, ready to enact these three things. And that this can only be accomplished if we design colleges and universities to be spaces that intentionally cultivate these behaviors.
My prayer for us all at USD is to deepen our courage to be compassionate in a world that often lacks compassion, to lead in a world that so desperately needs integrity, and commit to justice in a world that remains unjust for so many.
Nicholas Santilli, PhD
Assistant to the President for Strategic Initiatives