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Jacks Sunday Sermon At White Oak Chapel 240304
At White Oak Chapel, a diverse congregation gathered for Jack's Sunday Sermon, touching upon themes of temptation, self-sacrifice, and the wilderness. Angelique, accompanied by Caelum, greeted Jack warmly before taking their seats, juxtaposed with Meridith's silent acknowledgment. As the mass unfolded, the attendees, ranging from students to townsfolk, participated in hymns and prayers, reflecting a community united in faith. Angelique, not entirely familiar with the hymns' English lyrics, and Caelum, battling against tiredness, exemplified the varied levels of engagement across the congregation. Meanwhile, latecomers Tabitha and Miles made their entrance, highlighting the inclusive nature of the chapel service.
Jack's sermon eloquently linked the Lenten season to the broader challenges faced by the Haven community, emphasizing personal resilience and moral strength. His words resonated with the attendees, prompting moments of reflection on the nature of divine tests and the importance of character. Post-sermon, as the congregation dispersed, personal interactions hinted at the underlying dynamics among individuals. Angelique's parting words to Jack, and her subsequent conversation with Caelum, underscored the personal connections that intertwined with the shared spiritual experience. The service concluded with a sense of community, despite the varied backgrounds and beliefs of those present, highlighting Jack's adeptness in weaving together themes that resonated with all attendees, ending with a poignant reminder of the responsibility each carries into their respective 'wilderness'.
(Jack's Sunday Sermon at White Oak Chapel)
[Sun Mar 3 2024]
In the pews of the White Oak Chapel
Sturdy wooden benches line the aisle, their polished surfaces reflecting the soft, filtered light that streams through the stained glass windows. The pews themselves are intricately carved and embellished, if not overly comfortable looking.
It is about 50F(10C) degrees.
Someone's perfectly on time for once, and Caelum arrives with Angelique. He offers a brief dip of his head in a nod up ahead towards Jack preparing for mass, but none whatsoever towards Meridith while he takes a spot at the back pews quietly, in wait.
Meridith sticks out her tongue at Caelum, and turns her attention forward.
"Hola, Padre," Angelique greets mildly as she enters the chapel. She's not a student. Perhaps she's expecting to be tossed out on her ear, but she slides into a pew next to Caelum, before giving a bemused smirk at Meridith's behavior.
"It's nice to see you, Miss Inigo," Jack tells Angelique. She's far from the only non-student here; the White Oak chapel, like the campus, is open to the broader Haven community, and so there are plenty of townsfolk here. As students and parishioners, Jack greets them -- he was already talking to Meridith, and now there's a smile, too, for Caelum
"Y you too, Padre," Angelique says to Jack. She leans back, crossing one lithe leg over the other, in a dress that, from the waist down at least is an entirely modest, floor-sweeping length. Looking around briefly at the congregation and picking out those she knows with light little smirks, she eventually drifts back to a light conversation with her pew partner while she waits for the sermon to begin.
As Mass begins, Jack goes about its ordinary motions -- the benediction, an opening prayer. It's a student who does the reading today, before hymns are sung: all together, with a somewhat imperfect choir of college students -- "All Glory, Laud and Honor // to you, Redeemer King." The grizzled priest stands to the side as the choir sings, his hymnal in hand. He's got a fine enough voice, if scratchy in its baritone.
Meridith sings along quietly, largely to herself. It's a practiced series of motions.
This isn't her school. She's probably the only one of her family not to have attended, and thus there's some interest instead of acceptance of routine. Angelique doesn't even seem to know the words to the songs in English, having to follow along wherever they're written, but it's clear that she's not unfamiliar with church, rising and responsive to all of the cues.
Up on his feet, Caelum stands with his hands together on the back of the pew in front of him. His eyes are half-shut while he joins the mass. Exhaustion more or less visible on slightly sagged shoulders, and every now and again he's interrupted - having to rise a hand to cover his eyes from the lights spilling in from the stained glass windows.
Certainly not dressed for Sunday sermon, Tabitha silently walks in, a flash of blue against the walls and the brown of the pews. She seeks to take a seat in the front pews, up front and center. Poor Miles.
Fasionably late, or perhaps just plain late, Miles is drawn along beside and slightly behind Tabitha, the string of social pressure resulting in him following her towards the front pews, despite his apparent desire to remain in the back with the cool kids.
Psh. Everyone knows that cool kids can sit in the front. That's why Tabitha is there, afterall. Or, she may just want to torture Miles some. The world may never know.
At the high altar, the choir is singing -- All Glory, Laud and Honor -- with parishioners in the pews on their feet singing along with their hymnals. It seems the service is well into its process as the choir wraps up the hymn, Jack's scratchy baritone along with them. As the song fades, he moves to the lectern. "Glory be to God," he tells them. "We are gathered all of us today on this Sunday -- it is the Lenten season," he says. "And so I thought to talk to us all about temptation. About what it means to be in the desert," he says. "As you know, White Oak welcomes all faiths, but it is the story of Christ which has some special meaning for our students: it's Christ who was given great power, and struggled with that power," he says. "And it is Christ who, at the end, chose sacrifice and pain." There's a moment, with perhaps a critical eye towards Angelique. "Self-sacrifice," he clarifies, in case Inigos in the audience needed a footnote.
Almost as if she's recognized that challenge aimed at herself, Angelique's smile blooms bright and brilliant, her perfect white teeth on display against scarlet lips. She says nothing, but looks steadily toward Jack with what might be the slightest dip of her head in acknowledgment.
With little fanfare, Julia arrives and slips into a middle pew with a crossing of her legs.
Meridith smirks slightly as he gazes into the back rows. She sits quietly, politely, legs straight, seated tall with proper posture, hands folded in her lap.
Scanning the audience, Jack says, "That was going to be my topic today -- and perhaps before the end of Lent we'll return to temptation in the desert," he says. "Today, though? Today we'll talk about the wilderness in a different way," he says. "The desert that Christ went into was old," he says. "It was not just the desert of his temptation -- it was the desert that the kings of the Old Testament went to war in," he says. "It is a desert that stretched to the gates of Eden. It was a wild place -- in some translations, it was the Wilderness, and here in Haven, we know the dangers of wild places. Who amongst us has not seen some terrible thing in a wild place?"
Caelum returns to his seat quietly. Smiling, sure, faint in it while he crosses his legs where he sits, and rests one hand on his knee. The other, it's taken to his neck, to fiddle around and play with the cross pendant hanging while he listens to the sermon in relative, attentive silence.
Angelique arches an eyebrow, clearly surprised by something in Jack's claims. But she allows the pensive look to linger a few moments, before eventually once more nodding her head. She might be suddenly more interested than merely a presence in a pew.
Meridith nods along to Jack's sermon, showing some interest.
"There are things in the desert that come for the righteous," Jack says, his voice rising. "God sends tests." He pauses. "Satan tempted Christ -- that was a test in the wildness, but so was Jonah with the whale. So was Moses when he wandered in his desert," he says. "We live in a wild time," he says. "And we have this last week, as a community, been tested." He looks to Meridith. "We have had brothers and sisters attacked," he says. "We have had wickedness walk through the world," he says. "We have had it strike at people, people of faith, and it is natural, is it not?" he says. "When something awful befalls you -- it is natural to ask where God is." He looks up. "Where are you, God, amidst the storm?"
Meridith frowns at Jack as he states that. She has something to say but she remembers where she is and nods slowly, listening.
Tabitha lifts her eyes upward to the ceiling of the Church, then back down to Jack at the altar. She crosses her legs and settles her hands on her raises knee, fingers lightly folded together.
Angelique doesn't nod this time, though she does continue to watch and listen to Jack. From time to time, one might catch her looking to the side as she murmurs to Caelum, but she's keeping her decorum, polite and respectable - as respectable as the Inigo influencer can be, at least.
"The easy answer would be for me to tell you that God is inside you," Jack tells those assembles -- his eyes drifting across Angelique, Miles, Tabitha, Julia, Caelum and Meridith. "I wish I could tell you that with conviction," he says. "Perhaps some of you have felt that -- you have felt a -presence- inside you, something that gives you the sense that you are not alone in your body." He pauses. "But the truth is, we are alone in our deserts -- in Lent as in all times. God may watch us, but he is not with us. And why should he be?" he asks. "Do any of you feel as if you are puppets, dancing to divine will? Or are you free men and women?"
Meridith nods to Jack, seeming mollified.
Still watching up ahead, attentive of Jack, Caelum returns it whenever Angelique turns over to murmur - and maybe he's explaining the more virtuous aspects of the sermon, because he doesn't face to her during any polite whisper. In pause of it, he draws a cross over himself in the air, and continues to hold the cross at hanging at his neck.
"I believe that divine will is mercurial and changeable. I have never felt as a puppet, but free," Julia says from one of the middle pews, her dark blue eyes focused on the altar and its inhabitant.
"God is not strength in your arms," Jack says, his voice rising in tone and tempo. "God is not steel in your back. It is your strength and your steel," he says. "What God gives you is not strength of arm but strength of character," he says. "He gives you not steel of sinew but steel of will." He pauses. "He forges weapons for you, so that when you go into the desert you are alone -- but you are armed," he says. "And he prays for you. He prays that you will use them for righteousness." There is a shake of his head. "And so when he tests you," he says. "When he sends chimeras at you -- when djinn rise in smoke from the sands -- it is in hopes that you have listened. He is not there," he tells those here. "You are alone, in the wilderness," he says. "But you are alone for a reason: the desert is a crucible, and if you listened to God before you entered it you will emerge on the other side in Heaven."
It seems the sermon is over, and so Jack opens his Bible. "For this Lenten season," he says. "I will read from the book of Isaiah."
"A dire view," Angelique supposes. "Not what I had expected to hear." The words are kept low, though, meant probably only for herself or perhaps her companion. When Jack turns to scripture, she too crosses herself with the fluid motions of a long-practicing Catholic, and drops silent again.
Meridith nods alongside Jack's words. "Amen..." she murmurs. Nothing about his words seems like it makes her dubious or doubtful. She has no issue it seems with what is said.
"It is written in the book of Isaiah," Jack says by preamble, "that the people came to him. As Lent is a time of fasting for us, it was a time of fasting for the Israelites." Then he begins to read.
"'Why have we fasted,' they say, 'and you have not seen it? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you have not noticed?'
"Isaiah responded: 'Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please and exploit all your workers. Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife, and in striking each other with wicked fists. You cannot fast as you do today and expect your voice to be heard on high." He takes a breath during the reading."
"It is written in the book of Isaiah," Jack says by preamble, "that the people came to him. As Lent is a time of fasting for us, it was a time of fasting for the Israelites." Then he begins to read.
"'Why have we fasted,' they say, 'and you have not seen it? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you have not noticed?'"
"Isaiah responded: 'Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please and exploit all your workers. Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife, and in striking each other with wicked fists. You cannot fast as you do today and expect your voice to be heard on high." He takes a breath during the reading.
flips the page. Editorially, he says, his voice heated from Scripture, "Isaiah chastized those who came to him."
"Is this the kind of fast I have chosen, only a day for people to humble themselves? Is it only for bowing one's head like a reed and for lying in sackcloth and ashes?"
The priest pauses for emphasis. "Is that what you call a fast, a day acceptable to the Lord?"
"No!" cries Jack, full now Isaiah's fury. "Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?" He lets that question hang in the pews.
Jack flips the page. Editorially, he says, his voice heated from Scripture, "Isaiah chastized those who came to him."
"Is this the kind of fast I have chosen, only a day for people to humble themselves? Is it only for bowing one's head like a reed and for lying in sackcloth and ashes?"
The priest pauses for emphasis. "Is that what you call a fast, a day acceptable to the Lord?"
"No!" cries Jack, full now Isaiah's fury. "Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?" He lets that question hang in the pews.
Meridith beams, listening intently as Jack speaks, she mouths 'no' alongside him.
Meridith hushes Miles quietly. It's a sharp nun-like rebuke.
"The word of our Lord," Jack says, finally. "Amen."
There's an eyebrow raised toward Meridith at that, but Miles doesn't comment.
Meridith says "Amen. "
"Gracias a Dios," Angelique echoes Jack's words with her own, Spanish response, and once more crosses herself before she turns to look over at Caelum. Perhaps uncertain on if there's more to the service to follow, she lingers.
Julia nods with a withdrawn quietude. She perhaps murmurs in agreement, though it is not heard from the boundaries beyond her own pew.
Caelum draws a silent cross, with his cross, and lets it drop to hang again. "Amen.." All that he offers, in solemn, kept reservation - but he does turn over to half-hushedly whisper something to Angelique, and slowly begins to stand up thereafter.
After the sermon, Jack transitions into the rest of the mass -- transitioning to the Liturgy of the Eucharist, perhaps the spiritual heart of mass. With smoked tones, Jack solemnly consecrates the bread and wine, invoking the Holy Spirit, transforming them into the body and blood of Christ as a freshman clad in acolyte's robes rings a hand bell. For those who wish, Jack stands ready to provide communion, offering a wafer to each parishioner who approaches.
Meridith partakes of communion, when it is offered.
Angelique tips her head, watching Caelum when communion is offered. Whatever her personal beliefs about religion, there's barely a pause before she rises and moves forward with the group to participate in the rite.
With the discussion of the cheapness and watered-down nature of the communion wine fresh on his mind, Miles elects to remain seated as others partake in divine cannibalism.
Julia rises to her feet, and she stands behind Angelique in line to await communion.
And then -- communion given, and Mass is over. Jack stands up to give the blessing. "Go in peace," he tells everyone. "God loves you."
Meridith says "You as well, Father."
Caelum moves in shortly after Meridith, to take the body of christ with his hand. Divine cannibalism enacted in short order, he takes a swig of that blood too, and dips his head shortly, and paces out of the line, to head for the exit, but wait by the end of the pews in his relative silence kept.
Meridith bows her head politely to Jack and moves to step outside.
Tabitha quietly rises, having been rather quiet and mute during the whole of Jack's sermon, seeking to slide past Miles and Meridith as if she's intended to leave.
Once communion is taken, Julia stands off to the side to observe others still remaining in the nave.
Lingering, now, Jack stays by the altar after mass to talk to any who seek him out. There's a smile, his eyes flicking after those who rise.
Angelique takes the communion and after Jack dismisses the group, offers to him, "Gracias, padre. I am glad to see you are recovered from that unfortunate incident." She lingers a moment there, before turns to head through the crowd of parishoners. Some are greeted with familiarity, and there's a smile and wave offered over to Tabitha, before she's meeting up with Caelum beside the door. "I'd say lunch after mass is traditional, pero perhaps you would prefer somewhere dark?" she suggests to him.
Joel winces a bit as he sees he has missed the service, and so just lingers in the back of the pews, nodding quietly at people.
There's a glance afforded to Tabitha as she rises, and while Miles does the same, he doesn't head toward the door just yet, "Nice orating skills, Padre." He extends toward Jack not quite giving the word the same Spanish flare as Angelique, before wandering closer to Julia, "I don't mean to intrude on your soul saving, but we've crossed paths a few times and I've neglected to introduce myself. Miles Hull." He greets her with an easily affected turn of the lips.
Tabitha says to Miles, her voice drawn low to not carry too far, as she returns the wave to Angelique with a smile at the corners of her mouth, "I'm heading home. I have a few things that I need to take care of." Then he is off to greet Julia, and she nods tiredly, seeking the door door were Angelique and Caelum linger.
"Semonizing comes with the territory, Deputy," Jack replies to Miles with some low humor. "Besides," he says. "With this week -- it's good, perhaps, for us all to remember the kind of fight we're in."
"Julia Nolan," Julia answers with a slant of her head as she regards the tanned man with some interest. She extends a hand to shake, prim, and rather proper - something more on the edge of business than pleasure. "Lovely to meet you, Miles. I think we've gotten tangled all over the place without proper introductions. Forensic Medicine division, working as an intern for the Clinic." An overview of her connections with White Oak laid out simply, and without a hitch to her raspy, calm soprano to match her placid, if polite smile.
"Oh..." Tabitha says, turning back briefly to Miles where he chats with Julia, only to briefly interrupt him by handing back his coat.
"I'll give you a lift." Miles assures Tabitha, apparently not sticking around too much longer himself. "Ah, it's just another week." He comments back to Jack, before flicking his gaze to Julia once more. "Forensics? Wild that we haven't caught up." The Deputy notes, with a firm shake and gentle squeeze offered in turn, "We'll have to change that sometime, Julia." With that said he starts to make his way over toward Tabitha, intending to drive her through the cold.
"Isn't it," Julia muses, and she nods to Miles. "Certainly we will," the young woman replies as she lowers her hand back to a jacket pocket.
Tabitha smiles tired and wan to Julia. "Sorry, Julia. I didn't mean to be rude, but I didn't want to interrupt. Nice to see you outside of the classroom."
"You do not need to, Miles, though it is really appreciated." Tabitha says to Miles. "You ought to stay and mingle. I am just very tired and could use a moment to get a quiet breath in." But she does put her arm around his, despite her claim.
The coat that Tabitha had returned to Miles is just tossed right back over her shoulders as Miles shakes his head, "It's alright, mingling comes and goes, but a drive through the snow is forever." It's absolute nonsense, and he knows it.
Leaving Caelum to make decisions in the sun apparently means that he'll struggle for a time. And so in the end, an alert on her phone has Angelique sighing, leaning in to kiss her companion's cheek and saying, "I have to go. Text me, si? We will catch up more, soon."
Tabitha laughs. "Thank makes no sense... but alright." She tosses a hand up to Jack, Julia, and even Caelum. "Good day to you all. Blessed day."
With a gentle crossing of her arms, Julia watches the departure of the pair with mild interest and then gazes down at her phone with disinterest before tucking it back into her jacket pocket. She shoots a glance over to Joel curiously, but otherwise remains mute and thoughtful as she eyes the distance of the exit.
Joel remains lingering in the back, seeming rather unsure whether to stay or to just melt away inobtrusively. He meets Julia's glance with a faint, almost timid little smile, green eyes lingering on her for just a moment.
"It seems once again Miss Walker has forgotten her backpack," Jack tells those assembled. "Leaving weapons all over the campus is inappropriate."
"Better here than out there where all sorts can access them," Julia says blandly, her voice twisting with something that isn't amusement. Instead it's sarcasm, thinly-veiled.
"Well," Jack says. "I am going to take it for safekeeping, I suppose," he says. "And then I am going to go rest a little," he says. "Mr. Kalani," he says. "You missed the sermon. Miss Nolan, Mr. Cross," he says.
Joel winces ever so faintly and nods quietly at Jack "My apologies. My sleep schedule... needs some work."
"At least he showed up," Julia counters in defense of Joel. Though it is ever so brief. She dips her head, and turns on her heel.
Jack's sermon eloquently linked the Lenten season to the broader challenges faced by the Haven community, emphasizing personal resilience and moral strength. His words resonated with the attendees, prompting moments of reflection on the nature of divine tests and the importance of character. Post-sermon, as the congregation dispersed, personal interactions hinted at the underlying dynamics among individuals. Angelique's parting words to Jack, and her subsequent conversation with Caelum, underscored the personal connections that intertwined with the shared spiritual experience. The service concluded with a sense of community, despite the varied backgrounds and beliefs of those present, highlighting Jack's adeptness in weaving together themes that resonated with all attendees, ending with a poignant reminder of the responsibility each carries into their respective 'wilderness'.
(Jack's Sunday Sermon at White Oak Chapel)
[Sun Mar 3 2024]
In the pews of the White Oak Chapel
Sturdy wooden benches line the aisle, their polished surfaces reflecting the soft, filtered light that streams through the stained glass windows. The pews themselves are intricately carved and embellished, if not overly comfortable looking.
It is about 50F(10C) degrees.
Someone's perfectly on time for once, and Caelum arrives with Angelique. He offers a brief dip of his head in a nod up ahead towards Jack preparing for mass, but none whatsoever towards Meridith while he takes a spot at the back pews quietly, in wait.
Meridith sticks out her tongue at Caelum, and turns her attention forward.
"Hola, Padre," Angelique greets mildly as she enters the chapel. She's not a student. Perhaps she's expecting to be tossed out on her ear, but she slides into a pew next to Caelum, before giving a bemused smirk at Meridith's behavior.
"It's nice to see you, Miss Inigo," Jack tells Angelique. She's far from the only non-student here; the White Oak chapel, like the campus, is open to the broader Haven community, and so there are plenty of townsfolk here. As students and parishioners, Jack greets them -- he was already talking to Meridith, and now there's a smile, too, for Caelum
"Y you too, Padre," Angelique says to Jack. She leans back, crossing one lithe leg over the other, in a dress that, from the waist down at least is an entirely modest, floor-sweeping length. Looking around briefly at the congregation and picking out those she knows with light little smirks, she eventually drifts back to a light conversation with her pew partner while she waits for the sermon to begin.
As Mass begins, Jack goes about its ordinary motions -- the benediction, an opening prayer. It's a student who does the reading today, before hymns are sung: all together, with a somewhat imperfect choir of college students -- "All Glory, Laud and Honor // to you, Redeemer King." The grizzled priest stands to the side as the choir sings, his hymnal in hand. He's got a fine enough voice, if scratchy in its baritone.
Meridith sings along quietly, largely to herself. It's a practiced series of motions.
This isn't her school. She's probably the only one of her family not to have attended, and thus there's some interest instead of acceptance of routine. Angelique doesn't even seem to know the words to the songs in English, having to follow along wherever they're written, but it's clear that she's not unfamiliar with church, rising and responsive to all of the cues.
Up on his feet, Caelum stands with his hands together on the back of the pew in front of him. His eyes are half-shut while he joins the mass. Exhaustion more or less visible on slightly sagged shoulders, and every now and again he's interrupted - having to rise a hand to cover his eyes from the lights spilling in from the stained glass windows.
Certainly not dressed for Sunday sermon, Tabitha silently walks in, a flash of blue against the walls and the brown of the pews. She seeks to take a seat in the front pews, up front and center. Poor Miles.
Fasionably late, or perhaps just plain late, Miles is drawn along beside and slightly behind Tabitha, the string of social pressure resulting in him following her towards the front pews, despite his apparent desire to remain in the back with the cool kids.
Psh. Everyone knows that cool kids can sit in the front. That's why Tabitha is there, afterall. Or, she may just want to torture Miles some. The world may never know.
At the high altar, the choir is singing -- All Glory, Laud and Honor -- with parishioners in the pews on their feet singing along with their hymnals. It seems the service is well into its process as the choir wraps up the hymn, Jack's scratchy baritone along with them. As the song fades, he moves to the lectern. "Glory be to God," he tells them. "We are gathered all of us today on this Sunday -- it is the Lenten season," he says. "And so I thought to talk to us all about temptation. About what it means to be in the desert," he says. "As you know, White Oak welcomes all faiths, but it is the story of Christ which has some special meaning for our students: it's Christ who was given great power, and struggled with that power," he says. "And it is Christ who, at the end, chose sacrifice and pain." There's a moment, with perhaps a critical eye towards Angelique. "Self-sacrifice," he clarifies, in case Inigos in the audience needed a footnote.
Almost as if she's recognized that challenge aimed at herself, Angelique's smile blooms bright and brilliant, her perfect white teeth on display against scarlet lips. She says nothing, but looks steadily toward Jack with what might be the slightest dip of her head in acknowledgment.
With little fanfare, Julia arrives and slips into a middle pew with a crossing of her legs.
Meridith smirks slightly as he gazes into the back rows. She sits quietly, politely, legs straight, seated tall with proper posture, hands folded in her lap.
Scanning the audience, Jack says, "That was going to be my topic today -- and perhaps before the end of Lent we'll return to temptation in the desert," he says. "Today, though? Today we'll talk about the wilderness in a different way," he says. "The desert that Christ went into was old," he says. "It was not just the desert of his temptation -- it was the desert that the kings of the Old Testament went to war in," he says. "It is a desert that stretched to the gates of Eden. It was a wild place -- in some translations, it was the Wilderness, and here in Haven, we know the dangers of wild places. Who amongst us has not seen some terrible thing in a wild place?"
Caelum returns to his seat quietly. Smiling, sure, faint in it while he crosses his legs where he sits, and rests one hand on his knee. The other, it's taken to his neck, to fiddle around and play with the cross pendant hanging while he listens to the sermon in relative, attentive silence.
Angelique arches an eyebrow, clearly surprised by something in Jack's claims. But she allows the pensive look to linger a few moments, before eventually once more nodding her head. She might be suddenly more interested than merely a presence in a pew.
Meridith nods along to Jack's sermon, showing some interest.
"There are things in the desert that come for the righteous," Jack says, his voice rising. "God sends tests." He pauses. "Satan tempted Christ -- that was a test in the wildness, but so was Jonah with the whale. So was Moses when he wandered in his desert," he says. "We live in a wild time," he says. "And we have this last week, as a community, been tested." He looks to Meridith. "We have had brothers and sisters attacked," he says. "We have had wickedness walk through the world," he says. "We have had it strike at people, people of faith, and it is natural, is it not?" he says. "When something awful befalls you -- it is natural to ask where God is." He looks up. "Where are you, God, amidst the storm?"
Meridith frowns at Jack as he states that. She has something to say but she remembers where she is and nods slowly, listening.
Tabitha lifts her eyes upward to the ceiling of the Church, then back down to Jack at the altar. She crosses her legs and settles her hands on her raises knee, fingers lightly folded together.
Angelique doesn't nod this time, though she does continue to watch and listen to Jack. From time to time, one might catch her looking to the side as she murmurs to Caelum, but she's keeping her decorum, polite and respectable - as respectable as the Inigo influencer can be, at least.
"The easy answer would be for me to tell you that God is inside you," Jack tells those assembles -- his eyes drifting across Angelique, Miles, Tabitha, Julia, Caelum and Meridith. "I wish I could tell you that with conviction," he says. "Perhaps some of you have felt that -- you have felt a -presence- inside you, something that gives you the sense that you are not alone in your body." He pauses. "But the truth is, we are alone in our deserts -- in Lent as in all times. God may watch us, but he is not with us. And why should he be?" he asks. "Do any of you feel as if you are puppets, dancing to divine will? Or are you free men and women?"
Meridith nods to Jack, seeming mollified.
Still watching up ahead, attentive of Jack, Caelum returns it whenever Angelique turns over to murmur - and maybe he's explaining the more virtuous aspects of the sermon, because he doesn't face to her during any polite whisper. In pause of it, he draws a cross over himself in the air, and continues to hold the cross at hanging at his neck.
"I believe that divine will is mercurial and changeable. I have never felt as a puppet, but free," Julia says from one of the middle pews, her dark blue eyes focused on the altar and its inhabitant.
"God is not strength in your arms," Jack says, his voice rising in tone and tempo. "God is not steel in your back. It is your strength and your steel," he says. "What God gives you is not strength of arm but strength of character," he says. "He gives you not steel of sinew but steel of will." He pauses. "He forges weapons for you, so that when you go into the desert you are alone -- but you are armed," he says. "And he prays for you. He prays that you will use them for righteousness." There is a shake of his head. "And so when he tests you," he says. "When he sends chimeras at you -- when djinn rise in smoke from the sands -- it is in hopes that you have listened. He is not there," he tells those here. "You are alone, in the wilderness," he says. "But you are alone for a reason: the desert is a crucible, and if you listened to God before you entered it you will emerge on the other side in Heaven."
It seems the sermon is over, and so Jack opens his Bible. "For this Lenten season," he says. "I will read from the book of Isaiah."
"A dire view," Angelique supposes. "Not what I had expected to hear." The words are kept low, though, meant probably only for herself or perhaps her companion. When Jack turns to scripture, she too crosses herself with the fluid motions of a long-practicing Catholic, and drops silent again.
Meridith nods alongside Jack's words. "Amen..." she murmurs. Nothing about his words seems like it makes her dubious or doubtful. She has no issue it seems with what is said.
"It is written in the book of Isaiah," Jack says by preamble, "that the people came to him. As Lent is a time of fasting for us, it was a time of fasting for the Israelites." Then he begins to read.
"'Why have we fasted,' they say, 'and you have not seen it? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you have not noticed?'
"Isaiah responded: 'Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please and exploit all your workers. Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife, and in striking each other with wicked fists. You cannot fast as you do today and expect your voice to be heard on high." He takes a breath during the reading."
"It is written in the book of Isaiah," Jack says by preamble, "that the people came to him. As Lent is a time of fasting for us, it was a time of fasting for the Israelites." Then he begins to read.
"'Why have we fasted,' they say, 'and you have not seen it? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you have not noticed?'"
"Isaiah responded: 'Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please and exploit all your workers. Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife, and in striking each other with wicked fists. You cannot fast as you do today and expect your voice to be heard on high." He takes a breath during the reading.
flips the page. Editorially, he says, his voice heated from Scripture, "Isaiah chastized those who came to him."
"Is this the kind of fast I have chosen, only a day for people to humble themselves? Is it only for bowing one's head like a reed and for lying in sackcloth and ashes?"
The priest pauses for emphasis. "Is that what you call a fast, a day acceptable to the Lord?"
"No!" cries Jack, full now Isaiah's fury. "Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?" He lets that question hang in the pews.
Jack flips the page. Editorially, he says, his voice heated from Scripture, "Isaiah chastized those who came to him."
"Is this the kind of fast I have chosen, only a day for people to humble themselves? Is it only for bowing one's head like a reed and for lying in sackcloth and ashes?"
The priest pauses for emphasis. "Is that what you call a fast, a day acceptable to the Lord?"
"No!" cries Jack, full now Isaiah's fury. "Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?" He lets that question hang in the pews.
Meridith beams, listening intently as Jack speaks, she mouths 'no' alongside him.
Meridith hushes Miles quietly. It's a sharp nun-like rebuke.
"The word of our Lord," Jack says, finally. "Amen."
There's an eyebrow raised toward Meridith at that, but Miles doesn't comment.
Meridith says "Amen. "
"Gracias a Dios," Angelique echoes Jack's words with her own, Spanish response, and once more crosses herself before she turns to look over at Caelum. Perhaps uncertain on if there's more to the service to follow, she lingers.
Julia nods with a withdrawn quietude. She perhaps murmurs in agreement, though it is not heard from the boundaries beyond her own pew.
Caelum draws a silent cross, with his cross, and lets it drop to hang again. "Amen.." All that he offers, in solemn, kept reservation - but he does turn over to half-hushedly whisper something to Angelique, and slowly begins to stand up thereafter.
After the sermon, Jack transitions into the rest of the mass -- transitioning to the Liturgy of the Eucharist, perhaps the spiritual heart of mass. With smoked tones, Jack solemnly consecrates the bread and wine, invoking the Holy Spirit, transforming them into the body and blood of Christ as a freshman clad in acolyte's robes rings a hand bell. For those who wish, Jack stands ready to provide communion, offering a wafer to each parishioner who approaches.
Meridith partakes of communion, when it is offered.
Angelique tips her head, watching Caelum when communion is offered. Whatever her personal beliefs about religion, there's barely a pause before she rises and moves forward with the group to participate in the rite.
With the discussion of the cheapness and watered-down nature of the communion wine fresh on his mind, Miles elects to remain seated as others partake in divine cannibalism.
Julia rises to her feet, and she stands behind Angelique in line to await communion.
And then -- communion given, and Mass is over. Jack stands up to give the blessing. "Go in peace," he tells everyone. "God loves you."
Meridith says "You as well, Father."
Caelum moves in shortly after Meridith, to take the body of christ with his hand. Divine cannibalism enacted in short order, he takes a swig of that blood too, and dips his head shortly, and paces out of the line, to head for the exit, but wait by the end of the pews in his relative silence kept.
Meridith bows her head politely to Jack and moves to step outside.
Tabitha quietly rises, having been rather quiet and mute during the whole of Jack's sermon, seeking to slide past Miles and Meridith as if she's intended to leave.
Once communion is taken, Julia stands off to the side to observe others still remaining in the nave.
Lingering, now, Jack stays by the altar after mass to talk to any who seek him out. There's a smile, his eyes flicking after those who rise.
Angelique takes the communion and after Jack dismisses the group, offers to him, "Gracias, padre. I am glad to see you are recovered from that unfortunate incident." She lingers a moment there, before turns to head through the crowd of parishoners. Some are greeted with familiarity, and there's a smile and wave offered over to Tabitha, before she's meeting up with Caelum beside the door. "I'd say lunch after mass is traditional, pero perhaps you would prefer somewhere dark?" she suggests to him.
Joel winces a bit as he sees he has missed the service, and so just lingers in the back of the pews, nodding quietly at people.
There's a glance afforded to Tabitha as she rises, and while Miles does the same, he doesn't head toward the door just yet, "Nice orating skills, Padre." He extends toward Jack not quite giving the word the same Spanish flare as Angelique, before wandering closer to Julia, "I don't mean to intrude on your soul saving, but we've crossed paths a few times and I've neglected to introduce myself. Miles Hull." He greets her with an easily affected turn of the lips.
Tabitha says to Miles, her voice drawn low to not carry too far, as she returns the wave to Angelique with a smile at the corners of her mouth, "I'm heading home. I have a few things that I need to take care of." Then he is off to greet Julia, and she nods tiredly, seeking the door door were Angelique and Caelum linger.
"Semonizing comes with the territory, Deputy," Jack replies to Miles with some low humor. "Besides," he says. "With this week -- it's good, perhaps, for us all to remember the kind of fight we're in."
"Julia Nolan," Julia answers with a slant of her head as she regards the tanned man with some interest. She extends a hand to shake, prim, and rather proper - something more on the edge of business than pleasure. "Lovely to meet you, Miles. I think we've gotten tangled all over the place without proper introductions. Forensic Medicine division, working as an intern for the Clinic." An overview of her connections with White Oak laid out simply, and without a hitch to her raspy, calm soprano to match her placid, if polite smile.
"Oh..." Tabitha says, turning back briefly to Miles where he chats with Julia, only to briefly interrupt him by handing back his coat.
"I'll give you a lift." Miles assures Tabitha, apparently not sticking around too much longer himself. "Ah, it's just another week." He comments back to Jack, before flicking his gaze to Julia once more. "Forensics? Wild that we haven't caught up." The Deputy notes, with a firm shake and gentle squeeze offered in turn, "We'll have to change that sometime, Julia." With that said he starts to make his way over toward Tabitha, intending to drive her through the cold.
"Isn't it," Julia muses, and she nods to Miles. "Certainly we will," the young woman replies as she lowers her hand back to a jacket pocket.
Tabitha smiles tired and wan to Julia. "Sorry, Julia. I didn't mean to be rude, but I didn't want to interrupt. Nice to see you outside of the classroom."
"You do not need to, Miles, though it is really appreciated." Tabitha says to Miles. "You ought to stay and mingle. I am just very tired and could use a moment to get a quiet breath in." But she does put her arm around his, despite her claim.
The coat that Tabitha had returned to Miles is just tossed right back over her shoulders as Miles shakes his head, "It's alright, mingling comes and goes, but a drive through the snow is forever." It's absolute nonsense, and he knows it.
Leaving Caelum to make decisions in the sun apparently means that he'll struggle for a time. And so in the end, an alert on her phone has Angelique sighing, leaning in to kiss her companion's cheek and saying, "I have to go. Text me, si? We will catch up more, soon."
Tabitha laughs. "Thank makes no sense... but alright." She tosses a hand up to Jack, Julia, and even Caelum. "Good day to you all. Blessed day."
With a gentle crossing of her arms, Julia watches the departure of the pair with mild interest and then gazes down at her phone with disinterest before tucking it back into her jacket pocket. She shoots a glance over to Joel curiously, but otherwise remains mute and thoughtful as she eyes the distance of the exit.
Joel remains lingering in the back, seeming rather unsure whether to stay or to just melt away inobtrusively. He meets Julia's glance with a faint, almost timid little smile, green eyes lingering on her for just a moment.
"It seems once again Miss Walker has forgotten her backpack," Jack tells those assembled. "Leaving weapons all over the campus is inappropriate."
"Better here than out there where all sorts can access them," Julia says blandly, her voice twisting with something that isn't amusement. Instead it's sarcasm, thinly-veiled.
"Well," Jack says. "I am going to take it for safekeeping, I suppose," he says. "And then I am going to go rest a little," he says. "Mr. Kalani," he says. "You missed the sermon. Miss Nolan, Mr. Cross," he says.
Joel winces ever so faintly and nods quietly at Jack "My apologies. My sleep schedule... needs some work."
"At least he showed up," Julia counters in defense of Joel. Though it is ever so brief. She dips her head, and turns on her heel.