Sin and Worhsip

Chapter 1

Worship and praise. Pray and plead. Penance and repent. Fast and wriggle. Sin and ... 

"Father Sumet, Good morning...your sermon was very nice today"

The pastor turned to watch a youth get close to him in honour and give a feedback on his sermon for today's eucharistic celebration. Bible smiles hearing the youth open himself up to him in context to God. 

"Hope you still remember what I spoke today"

Bible responded politely, nervous to hear the progress he was gonna face for all of his efforts in getting the youth closer to God. He fidles with the little cross on the bracelet of beads which circles his hands. But he stopped at a beat, when the youths face, from being passionate, suddenly changed to being confused and lot. Bibles concern grew for the child. 

"Not really father...but I believe it need not be important to remember the whole of sermon. if one word touches your heart and you take it back home with you to put in action, it's a lot enough" 

Bible was stunned the way the youth responded. He was so flattered that he couldn't stop smiling about how much the child has gained knowledge on his religion. In his mind, Bible kept praising God for this was the result he received from all his hardwork..Drafting sermons, isn't easy, choosing the topic in the first place, is challenging. And all this hurdles, Bible feels, he has already overcome in a fantastic manner. But sure was he curious about the sentence the boy speaks about, that he speaks to have touched his heart. 

"You are absolutely right, then, would you mind telling me the words that touched you?"

Bible was ready to listen, all ready to see the fruit of not giving up on his belief. 

"Evil is everywhere, it's up to you, how you treat it"

Listening to the boy phrase, Bible was indeed pleased recieving back the words he preached few hours in previous. His beads made a sound while he tightened his fist with the celebrating this achievement. 

"Well Father, may I take my leave now? It was wonderful talking you"

Bible nodds his head in agreement while he watches the boy run far from the path, wth his mother, exiting the church compounds happily. Bible smiles while he hums the same words 'Evil is everywhere, it's up to you...to me...how I treat it'. He looks up, to the sky, the serene blue shade brushing all over the heavens. The sun is as bright for a fresh morning. He turns to return to his quarters and get back in his routine works. 

After finishing with his scrolls, Bible rushes down to the hallway of the church for getting the knowledge of the state of every equipment so he could seek help from the church attendants to get things back in order. The dark light of the golden brown illuminates the walls of the cathedral. The marble tiles reflecting the white washed morning hue from the plain windows. The glasswork attached at the alter radiates the optical illusion of soulful colours. The benches are placed where they are, lined perfectly and Bible could hear the angels reciting prayers peacefully. The candles at the side of the alters have gone out, the wax dropping still implying a sorrowful meaning of life. Bible can overthink on matters like this, he can sing a hallelujah and amen for every scene he reports while he passes between the bars and columns of benches. 

Bible closes his eyes, in prayer, asking for mercy and forgiveness one in thousandth time at a day. He continues pacing forward, slowly till he reached the candle stand and watches the requirements needed to set it up anew all over again. He lifts his left hand and sees the timing on his watch, making sure he will be able to get the attendants help him out. Or would he be required to call the nuns for a little help. He turns around as his black robe flaps a bold sound, till he was half the way back to the church exit, he hears muffles. 

At a distant from the row of benches, Bible could hear muffles of weepings and freight starting to fill up the atmosphere. The sounds weren't loud, they were soft, but to Bible, they stabbed him knives. He pushes his hand in his pocket, holds onto the rosary, tight enough, ready to face the situation that suddenly sent him shivers to his spine. He walks closer to the direction of the sound. He isn't willing to ask the presence, he isn't willing to intervene to know from a distant on who was there. A deep feeling inside him tells him to pace silently, to the corner. An embark of fear also crawls to his chest, that a sound can make this muffles silent and run away. Bible acts like a traditional men following the teachings of his ancestors like rules to the feast. But if that what makes him feel right, he tightens his hold onto the rosary and welcomes a sight he never in his life thought could be witnessing. 

A man, in his late 20s, nude, crouched between the wall and the row of benches, crying bitterly. Bible hears the church suddenly echoing with the cryful whispers. Bible gets his attention back, thoroughly tracing the man's physic, for the purpose of understanding the situation. 

The man wasn't old. His hair, as black as ebony, considered perfect, tender and young. His skin, untamed, matured and toned, speaking a story of horror and shamefulness. The toned colour, with a saturated hue, enriched from the epic contrast of the golden demeanor of the chandeliers and the brown walls. Powdered with darks marks of dirt, filth and disgust. His legs, seem as weak enough, ready to give up. His neck, kissed with marks of tight holds and the whole of this vulnerable figure sits in the puddle of thick blood on the floor of this church. The smell of indecent exposure draws disgust in Bibles stomach, which churns, temption him to run and throw up seeing something dirty and evil. 

The man was raped, tortured and thrown like an animal. Thinking about what might have happened, Bible believes a little that did this man leap into the church an hour after the mass was ended. This gives Bible no chance, but as a man of God,  to help this sheep to climb out of this moral sin and replenish his soul that holds dear to every human being.