It was Justin’s first day as a priest.
He would say all the words, waft the incense, Consecrate the bread and the wine; the whole thing.
He was scared and excited, and tried his best to feel the Holy Spirit in every part of his being.
But something felt wrong, like a little pebble in the road ready to trip him.
Mass began, and the parishioners sang the hymns for that day. The musicians played.
Justin gave his homily, on which he had worked very hard.
He noticed that there was quite a bit of discussion among the parishioners as he spoke. He tried to just plough ahead and not let it get to him.
Everyone then joined in professing their faith by way of the Nicene Creed, and the collection baskets were passed around.
Finally it came time to make everything ready for communion.
"Giving them a piece of bread, he said, take this all of you and eat of it, for this is my body which will be given u--" "Nice delivery Justin, but you shouldn't have quit your day job!" It was his uncle Dudley. He tried to keep his mind clear and filled with purpose. He went on.
“Taking a chalice, he said, ‘take this all of you and drink from it, for this is the chalice of my blood, the blood of the new and eternal covenant, which will be poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of si--" "Justin!" This time it was his mother. "Where's my hot plate? I know your sister borrowed it!" Justin was beginning to break down. It was as if his service to the church had awakened a troublesome creature that slept within each of his closest family members. It was scrabbling at the door; it was both annoying and persistent. He tried once more. "Deliver us, O lord, from every evil, that in your mercy--" "Justin, my balls need a scratch, if you wouldn't mind." His cousin. His composure finally shattered. "By all that's sacred under the father, son, and Holy Spirit, shut up! Shut up! Shut up!" He felt as though he was suffocating, and frantically pulled off his robes. He respectfully handed them to another priest. "I'm sorry, father Philip, I can't do this. I'm going to find God's real path for me." Justin felt a great sense of peace as he walked out of the church. The priesthood was perfectly good for some, but obviously Jesus, his greatest teacher, was pointing him toward other pursuits.
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