Distractible

On any given Sunday the Catholic Mass readings are the same worldwide, which means that every Catholic will hear the same sections of the Bible. Except for when they don't. 

Shortly after Hubby Tony and I slid into our pew this morning the lector announced that it was the feast day of St. Louis King of France (the patron saint of the city). All of the churches in the Archdiocese were celebrating the day instead of using the readings for the Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time. The lector pointed out that the passages was not in the missal, and we would need to pay extra attention as they were read.

I understand things better when I can read along, but I focused my attention on the pulpit and did my best. However, there was a family with three young boys (who looked to be approximately 6, 4, and 2) in my peripheral vision that kept distracting me. I could tell they were trying hard to sit quietly, but every once in a while they would poke at each other. Mom or Dad would send a glare in their direction, but soon they would be at it again.

At the conclusion of the readings the priest stepped into the pulpit to give the homily. I really tried to focus all my attention there, but it was impossible to concentrate. The middle young boy was trying to look at some books he pulled out of his mom's purse, but his younger brother was getting in the way. It looked like things were getting a little tense, so I closed my eyes to avoid looking at them and focus on the priest's words. I was far enough back that I was confident he couldn't see me and assume I was snoozing.

However, someone was watching. At the end of the sermon I opened my eyes and found that the middle boy was looking at me with a big smile on his face. Oops!

Five years ago today: A Dog's Life