Lamb of God
By brian_boru
- 732 reads
Lamb of God
Jack the butcher was a popular figure in the village community; not
with Father Murphy though. They never saw eye to eye, though they
shared a school bench, were in the same boy scout troop and even dated
the same girl once. Jack married the girl, Father Murphy went for the
priesthood and that was the end of that. Well, not quite?..
Though he was nowadays a successful business man and had a shrewd eye
for turning a penny Jack was also a prominent supporter of the local
Labour Party. It was said that he once had notions of joining the
Communist Party, but reckoned it might be bad for business. Father
Murphy supported the right of centre Government party and the two never
lost an opportunity to have a gentle dig at each other on such
occasions as the Bridge Club social. During the recent Local Government
Elections , the party as usual ran Jack as a candidate. He narrowly
failed to regain his seat on the Urban District Council. The local talk
was that Father Murphy's strong sermon the previous Sunday on the evils
of Communism did the damage as Jack was strongly fancied to head the
poll .
On the Sunday following the election the crowds filtered out of the
Parish church and lined up for the annual Corpus Christi Procession.
Whit Sunday was the only day in the year when the Blessed Sacrament was
taken in Procession through the village streets. All local groups took
part ; the men and womens confraternities, the Civil Defence Brigade,
the Red Cross Unit, Boy Scouts, Girl Guides, and of course "the chain
gang" - the Urban District Counsellors - this year with the noticeable
absence of Jack the butcher. It was a fine sunny day and the members of
the
Army Reserve unit sweated profusely in their heavy green woolen combat
jackets as they took up their customary position towards the tail end
of the procession.
They set off in a slow march just ahead of the ornate cream and gold
canopy - providing cover for Father Murphy bearing aloft the
Sacramental Host. It was the only day in the year when the Sacrament
was carried through the streets of the Harbour Town. Yellow and white
Papal flags, and multi-coloured bunting fluttered gaily from windows
and shop fronts. They testified to the devotion of the residents of the
town, most of whom were regular Church goers and for whom this Whit
Sunday was an important event on the annual calendar.
It was customary for business premises to adorn their shop fronts in
honour of the occasion. Even the Protestant shop owners entered into
the spirit of the occasion (great business people, Irish Protestants).
Many of the houses and shops had set out little tables adorned with
bunches of flowers, holy pictures, statues of the Sacred Heart and even
the occasional Christmas crib. The lady members of the Legion of Mary
cast a critical eye on the different shop front displays as the Parade
passed by.
The Brass Band was belting out "Sacred Heart of Jesus" as the parade
rounded the Butcher Shop corner. Despite the solemnity of the occasion
Father Murphy couldn't help overhearing the loud voice from the serried
ranks of the Army Reserve.
" Jasus lads, would you look at Jack. The divil never misses a
trick!". There was Jack standing by the doorway in his blue and white
striped apron - grinning from ear to ear. Hanging from a rail inside
the window for all the world to see were a dozen or so carcasses of
prime Spring Lamb, festooned with golden daffodils and bunches of
parsley, and overhead in vivid white painted lettering the window bore
the proud legend -
" Behold the Lamb of God "
Game, set and match to Jack??..?this time anyway.
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