These reflections are a result of more than 40 years of ministry as a Roman Catholic priest. Most of these years I spent in the Diocese of Charlotte which covers Western North Carolina. Now I am retired, and live in Medellín, Colombia where I continue to serve as a priest in the Archdiocese of Medellín.

He 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.
(Lk 1:46-56)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/122221.cfm
Mary’s hymn of praise (the Magnificat) sounds like an organizing anthem. And it is—the lowly lifted up, the hungry filled, the mighty toppled, the rich sent away empty. Maybe that’s why the church puts this hymn on our lips at every evening prayer to shake us up so we can prepare for the coming of the Lord who proclaims good news to the poor. Today we have another popular Christmas carol in Colombia: Mamá, ¿Dónde Están los Juguetes? (Mama, Where are the Toys?).