Mary's Candle

This is a modern parable that reminds us of what it means to be a light in this dark world.

Mary sat at the counter as she opened the small manila envelope and found a DVD and a note. She hadn't taken the time before to look at the return address but now she was curious. Written in what appeared to be a black marker was simply Kalil, and a strange address that said Saudi Arabia. She hurried to the dvd player and put the disc in as she thought about Tony in Saudi Arabia. Tony had left again about a month before and all he had shared was that this time he would go to Saudi Arabia and that it would be ok. Her heart leapt in her chest as the video started to play and Tony came into view. He was on his knees with his arms behind his back and there was a masked man on either side of him as well as one behind him. She heard his voice and it was just as calm as if he had been sitting on the sofa beside her. You are willing to kill for your faith; Im only willing to die for mine. Father forgive them. Those were the last words before the sword connected and mercifully the images stopped.

As Mary came out of the fog and picked herself up off the floor, it was strange but she couldn't get the image of Mary watching Jesus being crucified out of her mind. When she had composed herself, she was able to open the note that had been in with the DVD. She noticed that it looked as if it had been rained on. It simply said:

Mary, I am so sorry that you had to give up your husband in this way. I wanted to let you know that, because of what he said, I knew that the things he had told me about Jesus were true. While he waited to die, your husband helped me to pray and ask Jesus to be my savior. I didn't want to hold him while they killed him but, if I had not, they would have killed me and my entire family as well. Tony told me to go ahead and that he understood. I hope to meet you someday and thank you in person but for now this is the best I could do. Kalil (friend)

As she finished reading the note, her tears mixed with those of Kalil and once again the note was wet. In the days that followed, she could not get 1 John 3:16 out of her mind and she found a peace in remembering that Tony always said that we were called to be like Jesus.

"But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you"

The words of Jesus in Matthew 5:44