The Smallest Lantern

DAY 14 —“The Smallest Lantern”

“Welcome. We are in Day 14 of Advent,
and this is Tiny Advent Parables with Fr. Dominic —
where small things reveal great truths.”

“Today’s parable comes from a village night walk…
and the smallest lantern you can imagine.”

“A group of villagers were walking home at night
during a power outage.
Some carried large lamps,
others had bright torches.
But one elderly woman
held the tiniest lantern —
its flame barely visible.
A young man teased her,
‘Why even bring that?
It gives almost no light.’
She lifted it gently and said,
‘It gives enough for my next step.
And that’s all I need.’
The group fell silent.
Her little lantern
guided her with steady peace.”

“Humility is not thinking less of yourself —
it is knowing
you don’t need to shine the brightest
to walk with God.
Christ came small,
hidden,
quiet —
a lantern in a world full of spotlights.
Humility allows God’s light to shine
one step at a time,
in ordinary ways,
through simple hearts.”

“So today, ask yourself:
‘Am I trying to shine…
or trying to follow?’
Whisper:
‘Lord, make me small enough
to carry Your light.’”