Squish or be Squished

Cristo Redentor was beautiful, even in the fog and rain. Unfortunately, it discouraged the monkeys from coming out of the surrounding jungle. We were drenched by the time we boarded the train to come down the mountain. From there, we went to Sugar Loaf, a mountain jutting out of the ocean providing a view of the bay, the beaches, and the city. Or at least it provided this view on a clear day. Strong winds gave us short glimpses of these as it drove the fog hither and yon. I was prepared to miss this opportunity altogether when I learned it meant riding a gondola to the top. I don't do heights, and had it not been for the fact that I was the sole priest with the group today, I might have bailed. I am glad to report that we all failed to plummet to our deaths. 

While all of this was happening, two pilgrims and the other two priests went to collect our pilgrim credentials. This required them to stand in line for eight hours. After a dizzying series of short marches around the area where we expected to find them, we finally met, but were too late to attend the opening ceremonies on Copacabana Beach. Ah well... We would go by metro to our parish, celebrate Mass and eat. Except that an electrical problem shut down the metro. Bus?  Sure. Which one?  Who knows. By the time that fiasco was sorted out, I was prepared to go anywhere on any bus. Boarding the city bus was the hardest part of the day. WYD is always crowded, but this was especially cramped, and none of the locals seemed eager to get off before us. The shorter among us were well-squished. The larger did a great deal of squishing. By the time all was said and done, it was around 11:00 when we finished Mass and left the Church. All in a days work for these sorts of events, though. Today's reading from Exodus was apropos. The Isrealites dealt with Chaos as they fled Egypt toward the place where God would reveal himself. So will we. And I'll tell you more about it tomorrow.