Going to church

A beloved priest would often walk in his neighorhood and talk to some of the neighbors. One day he met a young man whom he recognized as a former altar-boy. It’s been almost 10 years since he last saw him, and asked him what he was doing, which university he was attending, how his family was doing and other basic questions. He asked him finally why he doesn’t come to church anymore. The young man was quick with his response, ‘well Father, I stopped coming to church because people are double-faced, they talk in church, they talk about others, they sing off-key, they use their cell-phone in church and also doze off when some priests are preaching. So why should I come to church, to get more upset?’

So the priest suggested that he would do an experiment. ‘Go to church one day, and take with you a glass filled with water to the brim. Now go around the church carrying the water in the glass without spilling one single drop.’ The man thought this was an odd proposition, but did as the priest told him. He cautiously went around the church concentrating on the glass in his hands, and didn’t even spill one drop of water, so focused was he on his job. When he finished he went to the priest and told him he had finished. And the priest asked him, ’now tell me young man....when you were walking around the church, did you hear the people chit-chat?....did you hear the off-key singing?....did you notice anyone using their cell-phone?...did you see anyone dozing off?....’ And for all these questions, the young man’s answer was ‘No, No, No, and No!’ And the priest concluded by saying, ‘that’s great, now when you go to church, stay focused on Jesus, look at the tabernacle, follow the Mass and the priest celebrating. And ignore what the other people may be doing. And remember that Jesus is also focused on you, because you are precious in His eyes.’