makes me happy

me and my boy tob, with aaron and beth at yankee stadium – final season.  sure the yankees lost, but it was a fun-filled day nonetheless.

yankees and the pope

i was watching the mass at yankee stadium on sunday, performed by pope benedict.  and for all the catholic issues theologically and just in society today, there was just something about god’s name being lifted up in that setting.  maybe it’s because i’m a yankees fan; i don’t know.  but, at the end of the service, joyful, joyful we adore thee (beethoven’s ode to joy) was played, and 57,000 people were waving flags.  it was kind of stirring.

now, yes, much of the flag waving was toward the pope.  so that’s not good.  but, i don’t know.  a young priest was interviewed, and what he had to say was great.  he talked very much about god’s presence being there, about jesus being glorified that day, about hope of christ and motivation of living a life following christ being celebrated that day. 

though, i did have to wonder, was there actually more beer sold for a group of catholics or for a yankees/red sox game?  and yes, it would have been cool to hear the bleacher-creatures do role call at the beginning of the mass like they do at the start of games (for those who are unaware, the fans in the bleachers chant each players name as the game begins until he waves).  “je-sus chri-ist /////”  ”ben-e-dict, ben-e-dict”   stuff like that.  

and of course, when the pope blessed articles at the end of mass, you just know that everyone in the stadium was holding a copy of the yankees schedule for him to bless, to insure they win every home game the rest of the season.