Matthew 1:18-25
“From Generation to Generation…We Can Choose a Better Way”
Preached Sunday, December 18, 2022
During our Advent lighting liturgy, on the list of things that bring us joy, you may remember “warm hugs.” This was actually my daughter’s answer when I asked her this past week what makes you happy. You see, she was on a Frozen kick this week and the magical talking snowman always says, “Hi! I’m Olaf! And I like warm hugs!”
As a mom I’ve watched Frozen and Frozen 2 quite a few times. But if I’m honest, I watched them a couple times before I became a mom too - I’ve even preached on Frozen 2 before because it has such good messaging in it. And among the primary themes of the movie is “do the next right thing.” When you don’t know what to do next - you do the next right thing. Princess Anna sings:
“I won't look too far ahead
It's too much for me to take
But break it down to this next breath
This next step
This next choice is one that I can make
… So I'll walk through this night
Stumbling blindly toward the light
And do the next right thing.”
And the next right step, at that time, was breaking down a dam that was wrongfully built at the expense of the land and those who lived there. Breaking the dam would free the enchanted forest and its indigenous population - but it would also release a tidal wave that would flood Anna’s beloved home kingdom of Arendelle.
The moral? Doing the right thing can come with risks…and yet we still do the right thing.
So what does Frozen 2 have to do with Joseph and today’s Gospel reading?
As far as Joseph knew, Mary, his new wife, had been unfaithful to him and broken the marriage contract. He now had to decide what the next right thing was. He could have chosen to publicly shame, exposing her and divorcing her publicly. But instead, he decides to do it privately - saving her from public shame. Except - was this really the right thing to do? It would have been for him. Minimal risk - mark it off as a bad chapter, move on with your life. But Mary would still have been an unwed mother. There still would have been talk. What would have happened to her? Here enters the Divine intervention. The text says, “But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.’”
And so, Joseph heeded the angel, and did the right thing, and took Mary as his wife. Let’s not brush past the huge risk that Joseph took in doing so - and what he was giving up in order to do the right thing.
He was putting his reputation and life of respectability at risk. What if word got out? What if everyone thought his wife was unfaithful? What would people think of him? Would they question his masculinity? His ability to be a good husband? Who he was as a person?
He didn’t know it yet but he was risking his safety - being the earthly father of the son of God? What did signing up for that entail? And Joseph would soon find out that it included fleeing for your life and becoming refugees in Egypt as Herod slaughtered the innocent children.
He was also risking his “right” to father his own first born son in a society where that was everything - he was letting that go and all the dreams and expectations that came with it.
Yes, doing the right thing for Joseph came with definite risks - and yet, it was still the right thing.
We’ve looked at a children’s movie and Scripture with the idea that doing the right thing comes with risks - and we should do the right thing anyway. So now let’s take a moment to center that in our world. A prime example of doing the right thing even when there are risks is allyship with marginalized communities. A Sanctified Art commentator, Dr. Christine J. Hong, wrote this, what you should know if you don’t know is that BIPOC stands for Black and Indigenous People of Color:
“Too often, I witness white folx evade doing the right thing in justice work. When the opportunity rises for white folx to do and say the right thing, which ultimately puts their relationships, jobs, or reputations at risk with other white folx, polite excuses arise—excuses that claim to ‘make room’ for BIPOC voices by declining to use their own voices. Why is it that room for BIPOC is made only when it serves the interests of white folx taking the least amount of risk? How about risking solidarity with us?”
And she has some points - true allyship involves “risking solidarity with us.” Us being any marginalized group. To speak up and act out even when it would put our own privilege and relationships at risk. When a boss or someone higher up - or a family member with which you have a good relationship with - says something racist or sexist; to put your body in front of someone who’s body puts them more at risk at a protest; to not participate in events or conversations or organizations that exclude people based on who they are - even if you are welcomed with open arms.
Doing the right thing comes with risks. And the fact is, every day we are given small chances to do the next right thing. They may not be big things - like breaking a dam or agreeing to be the father of God here on this earth - but they may be things like: speaking out when someone is being met with prejudice and hate. Spreading love and kindness at every turn. Being extra generous when we can. And whether a decision is big or small - we can listen to the voice of God inside of us that urges us to do the right thing - the thing of love - even when it comes with risks.
May it be so.
Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment