"Lyra, when are your parents going to come over. The Confirmation starts in an hour." Planning for Franz had been complicated. Not many family members would be in attendance but some friends and colleagues from CERN were going to the ceremony at the Old Catholic Church and then dinner to celebrate. Josef k. was anxious that all would go well. He was worried about his reputation and the love of his family would somehow be at odds. Nevertheless being in Church just added to the pressure. It was religion that he minded but sitting through Mass that he found to be painful.
"Josef K. you always are so anxious, here hold my hands," Lyra said.
They had met at a friend's party. He was immediately attracted to her and had a hard time concealing those emotions. He remembered his jaw muscles flexing and pulsing, grinding his teeth. While Lyra just didn't understand why he kept polishing his glasses until someone joked about lenses were no longer important in conducing these experiments. That's when Bernie Falk stated he'd probably need four eyes to see a particle that could be in three separate places at the same time.
With a breath, a sigh, and a slight kiss, "Better now?" she said. "Oh look they are here." A spark remained in her eye as she left him to great her parents.
"Hello, hello." Her father greeted her. "Where is my grandson? I have got some of his favorite and finest chocolates in the whole country to give to him. But don't tell him THAT yet."
"You're going to spoil him," Lyra said smiling
"What are grandparents for then huh?"
Grand-pere!" exclaimed Franz as they embraced.
"Ah, and a happy family. Sir, we don't want to be late." Josef K. stated. "Its good to see you again. We can all go in our car. It's a big American thing."
When they arrived at the Old Catholic Church, some of Josef K's colleagues were already there. They arranged themselves in the pews of the nave to begin the ceremony.
The church was packed with proud parents as they most often are for Confirmation. As Lyra welled up, Josef K. felt in his picket for a napkin and gave it to Lyra. Looking down she said, "What's the Cosmic Hour Glass Love?"
"Oh- I" Josef K. stammered, "...its something I am working on."
"Don't think I can use this then," she whispered, handing the Starbucks napkin back with his doodle.
It was at this pint the Priest began his sermon, "Matthew 17:20." He began and recited the rest from memory.
"It was because you do not have enough faith," answered Jesus. "I assure you that if you have faith as big as a mustard seed, you can say to this hill, "Go from here to there!" and it will go. You could do anything."
His words echoed through the halls. Occasionally someone coughed or cleared their throats.
"We come here to celebrated one of the Sacraments of our Church and welcome new members into religious life," the Priest continued. "But before I get into the meaning of today's sermon. I would like to welcome some of the finest minds in the world to our parish. The are delving into the secrets of the universe, may they receive the wisdom of the Lord so they may do what is right in His eyes. But I say to you," the Priest raising his voice, "some are concerned that your endeavors will bring about a new flood of time and space that will crush our world. May we offer up our blessings that you know what you are doing and that the good Lord will favor us with a deeper knowledge of his wonder. Come let us prey."
When the mass was over everyone began to take pictures of their sons and daughters. Josef K., his family and friends left and went to the restaurant to celebrate with food and drink where the sermon was mentioned but laughed off. The real discussion was about Yossarian. A man who's name they didn't even know.
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