Sunday, March 11, 2012

12 -- The Priest Searches His Soul


After mass, Jozef , in his quarters, spent his time in prayer. He was desperately trying to clear his mind to God’s will. As he rose from his knees around 1:30, he still felt as confused as he had the last two days.

If God wanted him to do His work, to follow the path of priestly dedication to him then why did he feel so strongly for a mere tightrope dancer from the circus?

Why did he have to meet her in the first place, long before he started on the path of dedication to the church? Was it an early temptation from the adversary? But when he first met her, he had been but a boy with no sinful feelings at all. All he remembered was his love and admiration for a lonesome little elephant rider. Maybe meeting her that long ago had been a sign that the path of the priesthood was not for him, after all.

It was just too great a coincidence that he met her again, here, with his feelings for her still as strong. And still as pure, almost.

He had to see her again, if nothing else, just to figure out whether his feelings were a sham, whether he would be overwhelmed with desire for her or with possessiveness. These feelings would be of the devil then.

At the best, he’d still feel love for her. He would wish her the best in her journey with her new husband and know that he, Jozef, would never love another woman again. After that, his path would be clear and his soul searching done.

He took his collar and cassock off, dressed in an old shirt and suit, and went for a walk to the tree behind the church.

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