My Sister's Birthday

Birthdays are such special days - we need to celebrate the gift of life and the many graces received through the years. The liturgy today has this quote:

“He will renew your strength,
and you shall be like a watered garden,
like a spring whose water never fails.” (Is 58: 11)

This is very consoling, but it depends on what goes before. The prophet Isaiah says that we are to remove from our midst oppression, false accusation and malicious speech; we are also to give bread to the hungry and satisfy the afflicted. Then God will renew our strength and we shall be like the watered garden, like a spring whose water never fails. Actually, I like the new RSV Catholic version that says:
“The Lord will guide you continually,
and satisfy your needs in parched places,
and make your bones strong;
and you shall be like a watered garden,
like a spring of water, whose waters never fail. (Is 58:11)

And that leads me to John’s Gospel where Jesus cried out: “If anyone is thirsty come to me, and let the one who believes in me drink. As the scripture has said, “Out of the believer’s heart shall flow rivers of living water.” (Jn 7: 37-38)

My sister has great faith and so from her heart flow rivers of living water.
Happy Birthday, Betty!