I got up early this morning and presided at the 8:00am Mass. Again, I haven’t had that Mass much in the last few months because Fr. Jim has taken pity on me (as I am not a morning person) and has often scheduled me for the 11:00am and 5:30pm Masses. The Mass was very well attended – I think about 80 people and the Gospel was the one I love about the friends who couldn’t get close enough to have Jesus see their buddy; so the went up and took off the branches that were a roof and then walked on the rafters and lowered him before Jesus. I remember so clearly that picture on the large easel in our first grade class room that Sister would tell us about. I can see the men up on the rafters lowering their friend. I hope students get to see such Bible pictures today? That was my homily and a few people stopped by to say they remembered those pictures.
Then I drove over to Arlington. I decided not to join the group on the bus because they were planning to go out to lunch afterwards and I didn’t have the time. It was very cold and windy but about 30 of her family and friends came and so it was a nice send off. We closed with a bagpipe playing, “When Irish Eyes..” and I used Cait mille falta (One thousand blessings) as our close.
I stopped by Newman Book Store to pick up a book I had ordered and then I came home and took a nap.
Tonight, Fr. Jim and I went to see another movie, “The Tourist”. I enjoyed it but mostly because it was set in Venice, which I love. Also Angelina Jolie is breath-takingly beautiful!!!
We went to the Pines of Rome afterwards and I had Spagetti Carbonara, it is the only place in DC where I have found it to be as good as in Rome!
More packing and then to bed. Tomorrow we will have First Reconciliation at 9:00am and 12:30pm. I am looking forward to that, so off to bed.
That scripture passage is one of my favorites, as well. I often use it for meditation putting myself in the scene….sometimes I pray the passage as the person who is sick, sometimes one of the friends carrying the stretcher, or one of the people around Jesus observing the scene.