Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

I heard a story recently that has helped me through the month of November and helps me look forward to Advent and Christmas this year. I hope that this story helps you too and that you can share it with those around you.

There was a king who had three sons. He decided that he would set them a challenge and the one who succeeded would be the next king.

He called them together in a great barn and said: ‘The one who can fill this barn the fullest will be the next king!’ The eldest son decided to fill the barn with wood and spent the day gathering as much wood as possible.

The second son decided to fill the barn with straw and set about gathering as much straw as possible.

The youngest son went to the market and was seen placing some items in his pocket.

The king and his three sons gathered together, as it began to grow dark. The eldest son tried to fill the barn with wood, but he didn’t have enough.

The second son tried to fill the barn with straw, but he failed as well. By now it was very dark.

Then the youngest son took out a box of matches and a candle. He lit the candle and filled the barn with light!

This story helped me as I remembered loved ones who have died and made me realise that the temptation is to fill the darkness of grief with lots of things but the only thing that can fill that space in our lives is the light of Christ risen from the dead. That transformed the way I prayed and remembered my mum and dad, other family members and friends who are no longer with me. It brought me great peace in the darkness of grief. I hope that it will help you too.

Now we begin Advent, and the story helps me think about how I am going to prepare for Christmas.

My reflections now are based on the candles we have on the Advent wreath. The four in the circle represent Hope, Peace, Love and Joy.

Hope: in the first week of Advent, I am going to reflect on where I have lost hope and the darkness in my life that is there as a result and what I have been trying to fill that space with unsuccessfully. Then I am going to remember the story of the barn and the candle and imagine that barn of despair to be transformed by the light of Christ into a place full of hope.

Peace: in the second week of Advent, I am going to reflect on where I am at war and the darkness in my life that is there as a result and what I have been trying to fill that space with unsuccessfully. Then I am going to remember the story of the barn and the candle and imagine that barn of war to be transformed by the light of Christ into a place full of peace.

Love: in the third week of Advent, I am going to reflect on where there is hate and jealousy and the darkness in my life that is there as a result and what I have been trying to fill that space with unsuccessfully. Then I am going to remember the story of the barn and the candle and imagine that barn of hate and jealousy to be transformed by the light of Christ into a place full of love.

Joy: in the fourth week of Advent, I am going to reflect on where there is sadness and the darkness in my life that is there as a result and what I have been trying to fill that space with unsuccessfully. Then I am going to remember the story of the barn and the candle and imagine that barn of sadness to be transformed by the light of Christ into a place full of love.

Faith: when it comes to Christmas I am going to reflect on where there is doubt and the darkness in my life that is there as a result and what I have been trying to fill that space with unsuccessfully. Then I am going to imagine that barn of doubt to be transformed by the light of Christ into a place full of faith.

In all of this I will be calling on the Holy Spirit to open my mind and my heart and my whole self to God. I inviteyoutodothesameduring Advent. There is always the danger that we try to fill the darkness of Advent and Christmas with lots of activity, parties, presents, food and drink. But there is nothing that can fill our lives in the way that Jesus can. I pray that we all have a blessed and fruitful Advent and Christmas filled with Jesus and that by the power of the Holy Spirit we can share this story with people around us who are in darkness and need the light of Jesus in their lives too.

God bless you all,

Fr Chris