I got up at 3:30 this morning

To go to Mass at the Washington Nationals Stadium.  My friend, Fr. Matthew will be concelebrating the liturgy there today.  Oh, and the pope will be there too.

Did I ever tell you how I managed to get tickets to this event?  When I read the announcement in the church bulletin about submitting my name for the lottery for 60 tickets, I called the church office many times.  That's not so big a deal.  i call the church office almost every week for one thing or another.  But for the three or four weeks before the lottery, whenever I called to put my name into the drawing, the phone was always busy.  Always.

The last time I tried to get my name on the list was the day AFTER the drawing had been conducted.  I was pretty disappointed.  I had truly wanted to be a part of this historic event.  The last opportunity I had to go to a papal Mass had been when I was in high school.  back then I did not get the significance of an opportunity like that.

A few days later, after I had resolved myself to sitting on the sidelines and watching on TV, a friend called and told me she had an extra ticket.  What?  How on earth does one come by an "extra ticket" to something like a papal Mass?  She told me she had asked for two but her husband, who is not Catholic, was not interested in going.  Personally, I think God wanted my friend and I to go together from the start.  What a sense of suspense He has!

So I am going to hear the message of hope that the holy father has for us.  I am looking forward to joining the crowds of faithful.  I expect the feelings of hope, faith and fellowship to make this a most unique experience. 

And I will be praying for you, my family and friends.  If today brings a special hopeful smile to your face, you'll know why.

Peace.