Birthday Girl

She sat in  an easy chair while I celebrated Mass in her daughter's home. She was surrounded by over fifty family members as she celebrated here 85th birthday. Her children spoke about her life, dedication to family and her example. Her great grandchildren hugged and kissed her as she beamed with delight.
Following Mass, everyone feasted in food and friendship until late into Sunday morning. From little kindergarten girls to senior citizens, all shared in the celebration.
Our Sunday gospel reading reflected the frustrating "no catch" fishing trip of the apostles and the subsequent meal provided by the Risen Lord.
The Lord provided an opportunity to celebrate by word and sacrament the life of Bridie on her birthday. Family and friends shared in the same  meal, nurtured by love, with a beaming 85 year old.
Birthday, no matter how old a person is, should always be celebrated, not only because the Lord loves celebrations but also became it gives opportunities to family and friends an opportunity to affirm, support,  encourage and love those who love them.

Casual Celebrity

Today, I went to a garden center to purchase some seeds for my newly dug vegetable garden. As I was studying the various packs of vegetable seeds, I noticed a familiar and famous person just a few feet away from me. He looked at me and I looked at  him and we just continued on with our individual business. While there were several people in the store, I noticed that everyone just left he and his wife alone to do their own garden shopping. He was just treated just like any other person who came into the store. His wife paid for their purchases and he took the purchases to their car. Who was this famous well-known person? Well, I had the distinction of purchasing my garden seeds in  the same place, at the same time the Prime Minister of Ireland was purchasing his garden seeds.