CRITICAL MOMENT
I had slept late the night before and had
slipped into the procession by a stroke of luck. I was at the end of the
possession. These days, church bells were no more especially in the town where
these things did not seem to matter. If it were in my village, I surely would
have heard the bells even from our house.
Nothing was unusual; except that as a mass
server, I had to be about the normal ritual in the holy sanctuary, putting my
hands together and depicting utmost holiness and sanctity. This was the norm. My
church is so organized and great order prevails unlike in many churches where
the pastor does what he feels like.
The tasks are divided among other Mass servers as
usual and when it reached my turn, I was to hold the microphone for the Monsignor
to read out his sermon which he always prepared and read before everyone. I
held the microphone and was enjoying it before I started having a strange
feeling. Gradually, this strange feeling was building up underneath my white
apparel. I felt like something was coming apart. I was in full glare of the
church as the Reverend Father read from the Holy Book. Suddenly, I started speaking
in tongues. Well, our monsignor did not so much believe in speaking in tongues.
I spoke in tongues as I felt my trouser slipping off my tiny waist. I know this
must be the evil one whose work is simply to kill, steal and destroy. This time,
it was my pants! My belt had given way suddenly and my trouser was close to
slipping off. As I silently spoke in tongues, I shifted my legs to go against
the down flowing tide. Well, my pretence had no real chance of saving me. I began
to recite and remix two psalms at the same time, psalm 121 and psalm 91.
Gradually, the trouser came right down.
As though I had not had enough, the Monsignor then
finished his speech and I was supposed to follow him with my hands together. As
he took the first two steps, I followed him and then the worst happened. The
trouser came down in full glare of the congregation, save for the white cassock
which we wear, I was forced to use my hands to save my trousers from causing me
untold spiritual hardship.
Once I held it and drew it up, I managed to find
myself in a corner of the altar hidden from people to adjust my belt. As I
looked up, the prying eyes of the Reverend Father met mine and immediately with
a certain attitude, I pouted my mouth, put my hands together, closed my eyes
and uttered, Hail Mary full of grace, the Lord is with you, blessed are you
among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus… and then there seemed
to this reassuring smile on his face that seemed to be saying…. Your sins are
forgiven!
No comments:
Post a Comment