The Magnificat is an inspiring - and surprising - hymn of praise that Mary sings to God. It tells us that as well as a woman of faith she was strong and bold. Although she is humble before God there is nothing weak or submissive about her. Her song praises a God who comes to shake up the world and turn things upside down. The mighty and arrogant will be pulled off their thrones and the lowly lifted up and empowered. Those who lack the necessities of life will be fed and the self-satisfied sent away with nothing. In other words, Mary's God cannot and must not be used to prop up the status quo or 'the way things are'. Her God is a God of earthly as well as heavenly justice and He cares deeply about the social, political, and economic orders that people create. Paul echoes a similar attitude: Christ's work is not finished until the entire world is subjected to God and brought into harmony with divine law - and we are part of that mission. And Mary herself must not be held captive to an otherworldly and uninvolved sort of devotion and spirituality. Mary provides a model of a courageous woman who is willing to endure pain, struggle, persecution, and rejection in order to fulfill her role in God's plan for the redemption of the world. The 'woman clothed with the sun' inspires us to be courageous people who are committed to a just and peaceful world as well as the salvation of souls.