Today we've
lit the pink candle -because the 3rd Sunday in Advent is
GAUDETE Sunday...
Gaudete means
“Rejoice” - and that's why I asked you to keep track of the
number of times you heard references to joy, rejoicing or even good
news in our readings this morning. You might have noticed there were
several even in the 2 readings we heard – but if you take a moment
to look at the others, you'll find even more.
The church, then, is very keen
that today we should REJOICE.
Well – with
only 9 days til Christmas, that probably seems fair enough....except
that we know that in some homes today there will be nothing to
rejoice at. The families whose lives were changed forever by the
events in Newtown on Friday will have a long and weary road to travel
before joy can even be a faint possibility for them...and always,
each and every day, there will be others whose stories don't make the
news, but who find themselves walking the valley of the shadow.
Despite this,
I dare to say that Paul is right.
Despite all
the darkness of the world, the Christmas plans changed so
terribly...we can rejoice.
So listen,
because I want to tell you a story...It might seem to be a story of
disappointed hopes...but remember to listen to the very end, because
beyond the darkness the light still shines.
Once upon a
mountain top, three little trees stood and dreamed of what they
wanted to become when they grew up. The first little tree looked up
at the stars and said: " I want to hold treasure. I want to be
covered with gold and filled with precious stones. I'll be the most
beautiful treasure chest in the world!" The second little tree
looked out at the small stream trickling by on it's way to the ocean.
" I want to be traveling mighty waters and carrying powerful
kings. I'll be the strongest ship in the world! The third little tree
looked down into the valley below where busy men and women worked in
a busy town. I don't want to leave the mountain top at all. I want to
grow so tall that when people stop to look at me they'll raise their
eyes to heaven and think of God. I will be the tallest tree in the
world.
Years,
passed. The rain came, the sun shone and the little trees grew tall.
One day three wood cutters climbed the mountain. The first wood
cutter looked at the first tree and said, "This tree is
beautiful. It is perfect for me." With a swoop of his shining
axe, the first tree fell. "Now I shall make a beautiful chest, I
shall hold wonderful treasure!" the first tree said.
The second
wood cutter looked at the second tree and said, "This tree is
strong. It's perfect for me." With a swoop of his shining axe,
the second tree fell. "Now I shall sail mighty waters!"
thought the second tree. " I shall be a strong ship for mighty
kings!"
The third
tree felt her heart sink when the last wood cutter looked her way.
She stood straight and tall and pointed bravely to heaven. But the
wood cutter never even looked up. "Any kind of tree will do for
me." He muttered. With a swoop of his shining axe, the third
tree fell.
The first
tree rejoiced when the wood cutter brought her to a carpenter's shop.
But the carpenter fashioned the tree into a manger for animals. The
once beautiful tree was not covered with gold, or treasure. She was
coated with saw dust and filled with hay. The second tree smiled when
the wood cutter took her to a shipyard, but no mighty sailing ship
was made that day. Instead the once strong tree was hammered and
shaped into a simple fishing boat. She was too small and too weak to
sail to an ocean, or even a river, instead she was taken to a little
lake. The third tree was confused when the wood cutter cut her into
strong beams and left her in the wood yard
"What
happened?" The once tall tree wondered. " All I ever wanted
was to stay on the mountain top and point to God..."
Many days and
nights passed. The three trees nearly forgot their dreams. But one
night, golden starlight poured over the first tree as a young woman
placed her newborn baby in the manger. "I wish I could make a
cradle for him." Her husband whispered. The mother squeezed his
hand and smiled as the starlight shone on the smooth and sturdy wood.
" This manger is beautiful." She said. And suddenly the
first tree knew he was holding the greatest treasure in the world.
One evening a
tired traveler and his friends crowded into the old fishing boat. The
traveller fell asleep as the second tree quietly sailed out into the
lake. Soon the wind got up and a terrible storm arose. The little
tree shuddered, battered by huge waves. She knew she did not have the
strength to carry so many passengers safely to harbour in this
weather. The tired man awoke. He stood up, stretched out his hand,
and said, "Peace." The storm stopped as quickly as it had
begun. And suddenly the second tree knew she was carrying the king of
heaven and earth.
One
Friday morning, the third tree was startled when her beams were
yanked from the forgotten wood pile. She flinched as she was carried
through an angry jeering crowd. She shuddered when soldiers nailed a
man's hand to her. She felt ugly and harsh and cruel. But on Sunday
morning, when the sun rose and the earth trembled with joy beneath
her, the third tree knew that God's love had changed everything. It
had made the third tree strong. And every time people thought of the
third tree, they would think of God. Her
sadness turned to joy....a joy for all people.
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