Today was Hump Day at Simbang Gabi, four Masses done, four Masses to go after today. It’s usually my toughest day in the novena, and this year was no exception. No offense to our celebrant, but I’m pretty sure I fell asleep twice during the readings and his homily. I think I also may have nodded off while I led the novena near the end of Mass, but I’m not sure.
Tomorrow will be better, I thought as I struggled to keep my eyes open. It’ll be the weekend, and the congregation will swell to double or triple today’s 150 or so people. I won’t have 
to work, so there will be more time to chat afterward. Today… today is just something to get through.
I thought about this as we sang “Ama Namin,” a beautiful arrangement of the Lord’s Prayer in Tagalog, arranged by a friend of one of our Simbang Gabi musicians. Listen to this to get a flavor of the song. Somehow, singing the Lord’s Prayer, even in a different language, as opposed to saying it makes me pay more attention to the words. Perhaps my daily Bread for today is simply the strength to keep going until tomorrow.
I wish I’d been more present to God this morning, tired as I am, and hope that I’ll be able to step it up a bit throughout the day, but I’m not sure it will happen. For now, I’m praying for the grace to at minimum be kind and gentle as opposed to grouchy and cranky on this hump day… and that a good cup of coffee, albeit decaf, will help.
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