There is a beautiful legend and inspiring legend about the poor people who lived in a forest village in old Romania. Their poverty was clearly reflected in the old ramshackle church which stood near the town plaza. The poor people were very ashamed of their old church. When visitors came to the town, they often said very apologetically: “Someday when we are rich, we are going to build a beautiful cathedral like the one in the capital on the other side of the forest.” Because they were so poor, they couldn’t afford to build a magnificent cathedral by themselves. So on special occasions, like Christmas, they often walked through the forest to visit the cathedral rather than pray in their old run down little chapel. They thought they ought to pray in a great cathedral on Christmas day, rather than in a cheap little chapel.
One cold, dark Christmas eve, a boy named Raul was walking all alone from the squatter’s village to the cathedral in the city. Because it was a very dark and freezing winter night, he was carrying a little candle with him to light his way along the forest path. Back in the village, Raul’s mother was terribly sick and dying of cancer. Raul wanted to bring his candle to the cathedral, place it on the altar, and pray for his mother’s cure.
As Raul passed through the darkness of the forest, he heard a moan from beyond the bushes. He was frightened by the sound (he thought it was a wild animal) and started to run away. But he tripped and fell by the edge of the path. There he saw a little boy sitting alone under a big oak tree. The little boy said: “I’m afraid! I’m lost in the forest! I can’t find my way home! Please give me your candle so I can find my way home to mommy!” “This candle is for MY mother” Raul said. “I have to take it to the altar of the big church in the city so that she will get well and won’t be sick anymore.” “But it’s Christmas Eve,” the little boy said. “I have to go home to Mommy, too.” Can’t you give me your candle, please? Raul thought for a moment, and then with a very sad look on his face, he gave the candle to the little boy. The boy smiled at him and said: Thank you! You can go back home now. Your mommy will live! She is waiting for you.”
Raul ran home through the dark and found his mother waiting for him. She was smiling and singing and cooking supper in the kitchen, as though she had never been ill. “Let’s go to our little chapel for Midnight Mass,” Raul’s mommy said, and “thank the little boy of Bethlehem for curing me.” So Raul and his Mommy went to the shabby little church in the village to say “Thank You” to Jesus.
When they entered the dinghy church, the chapel was practically empty because nearly everyone in the village had gone to the cathedral in the city for Midnight Mass. But when they walked into the chapel, they were nearly blinded by the light which streamed from the altar. Bathe in the splendor of that magnificent light, the little old church was as beautiful as the big Cathedral in the city. “Look, Raul,” his mother exclaimed, “there is only one little candle on the altar! How can one little candle make such a glorious light?” Raul was too awed to speak. He just kept staring at the candle. As he knelt in front of the altar, he saw that the one little candle on the altar was his little candle – the one he had given to the little boy in the forest.
Light just one little candle in church this Christmas, and the world will be full of light. May we always reflect the Light of JESUS to others!!!
Have a blessed and happy Christmas!!!
God bless!!!
(Taken from Fr. Joseph Galdon's book LAUGHING CHRIST)
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