A Small Piece for this Easter:

The Janus Campaign

This Day

Where do I even start? This was the question that Father Mulcahy asked himself as he stared at the blank sheet of paper upon which he was trying to compose the sermon for tomorrow's Easter service. Mulcahy had always been nervous about speaking in front of crowds and tomorrow was certainly going to be quite the crowd, indeed. Beyond the staff and patients of the 407th, would be Church Mother Mary and many followers of the Church of the Sacred Promise, all seeking his guidance in knowing the ways of the Lord. There would be some from Alnus Town, many who were simply curious about this strange God and his church, and then were the eyes of the Chaplains Corps and the Catholic Church itself, represented by Colonel Maurice Hollister and Cardinal Reardon, both of whom had been observing him for the past week. It was more than a little intimidating.

Certainly, it did not seem as if he had made a very favorable impression on his ecclesiastical superiors, either in the army or within the Catholic Church. Colonel Hollister had wasted no time in criticizing what he regarded as Mulcahy's 'lack of zeal' in the discharge of his duties.

"You never really had them in the palm of your hand!" Hollister had said after watching the previous week's sermon.

"I know I'm not exactly the most dynamic of speakers…"

"It's the lord's work we're on, Father! This is no place for hesitation! You're the spiritual center of this outfit! You've got to take these people by the hand! Hold on tight! You've got to lead, Father! Lead these people into heaven's embrace! With Bible in one hand and sword in the other, lead these people!

"Father… There's a whole new world of God's children here, lost in the wilderness! How are they expected to find the Lord's path if you don't use your voice and call them to it!"

And yet, if Colonel Hollister's judgment was of fire, charged like lightning, Mulcahy was even more worried by the impassive look of Cardinal Reardon. The man seemed to notice everything and said precious little. Besides such men of faith, Mulcahy felt small, indeed.

But it was still his responsibility to give tomorrow's Easter Sermon. A blank page wasn't going to fill itself. Mulcahy sighed and set his pen down and decided to take a walk.

The next morning, Mulcahy donned his vestments and stepped up to the podium before those gathered. As he knew there would be, there were so many seated before him. He looked over all the familiar faces: Colonel Potter and Major Houlihan, Major Winchester, Hawkeye, BJ, and Trapper, Radar and Parna and Koirre… Major Burns… One of God's children even if as flawed as any other.

These were joined by new faces: Mother Mary, Sister Ruth, Sister Elizabeth, Sister Margaret and the other Sisters of the Church of the Sacred Promise. Grelkar and some of his Orc brothers… And of course, Colonel Hollister and Cardinal Reardon.

All waiting expectantly.

"My friends… I must admit that I've had quite the time trying to figure out just what to say this morning. This is hardly a normal Sunday. One not quite like any other. For on this holiest of days, we are joined by many faces new and unfamiliar to us but faces who still seek the Blessings of the Lord.

"It is a great responsibility. It is the mission of the clergy to reach out and offer the teachings of the Lord to our fellows and today that term needs to be considered a bit more broadly than before, for ours is a fellowship that extends beyond humanity. But as we reach out, we take joy in the knowledge that others reach back to us! They seek our guidance. They yearn to know God as we do. We cannot possibly turn away from them!

"But how shall we teach them? What lessons must we teach?

"I spent many long hours thinking on this. We… We were the fortunate. For it was on our little planet that The Lord sent his son. Sent us a savior to teach us to be better to our fellow man and to believe in our own worth! To believe that we are ALL worth saving." He looked directly to Mother Mary's congregation.

"But while the messenger was sent to us, his message was not meant for us alone. By the will of God, the testaments of our Faith came to this world and for a small group of people, abandoned and persecuted by powers beyond our very understanding, became the foundation for something truly wondrous! That these people opened their hearts to God. Indeed, It may be that THEIR hearts were already open to God, for they have long practiced the charity and compassion which we pride ourselves upon.

"Their faith is all the more remarkable, for where WE were promised a messiah, all these people have asked for is a teacher."

Mulcahy paused. "In the nineteen-seventies, the Voyager spacecraft were launched from earth. They carried records with sounds and greetings from our world. Among those greetings was the following: 'We step out of our solar system into the universe seeking only peace and friendship, to teach if we are called upon, to be taught if we are fortunate.'..." Mulcahy paused, again looking over the crowd.

"We have been called upon to teach. But does that mean we have nothing, ourselves to learn from those who we would teach? Are we certain that WE are the keepers of ALL of God's truths? Or might we yet learn more of the Creator's wisdom… If we are but willing to hear?"

Father Mulcahy extended a hand. "That is why I've invited Church Mother Mary to conduct this morning's sermon before His Eminence, Cardinal Reardon addresses us all."

The Inferni Church Mother stood, in her traditional vestments and with a warm smile, stepped to the podium.

"Thank you, Father. Let us begin…"

And so it was as Cardinal Reardon listened, a smile grew upon his face, one which he kept as Mary finished speaking.

Cardinal Reardon took the lectern and regarded Mulcahy and the Church Mother warmly. "Father Mulcahy… Church Mother… Thank you. I must say, the two of you will be a tough act to follow..."

A/N:

An anonymous reviewer said: "I really hope Father Mulcahy doesn't think of incorporating Falmart's dirty, pagan teachings into Christianity."

Here's the thing: Mulcahy is not about to start worshipping Emroy or Hardy, nor praying to Rory or Giselle or any of their ranks. However, in the setting of this story, these individuals exist. Whether you think of them of gods, demigods, or whatever, they exist and ignoring them is as futile as ignoring gravity. It may be inconvenient but it's a thing.

As for the adoption of other local religious practices or even the local Christian (Inferni) traditions into Catholic practice, that would not be Father Mulcahy's call to make. I could say more but I will leave it at that.

Until next time!