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December 22, 2019: Do the Right Thing

 

Have you ever heard these sentences?

You are no longer needed here anymore.

It’s not you, it’s me. But let’s stay friends.

You didn’t make the team.

I don’t love you anymore.

 

Wow, those are harsh.  And even though the scriptures don’t record what Mary said to Joseph about her pregnancy, she did tell him something.  We can only imagine how Joseph may have felt . . . betrayed, foolish, naïve, used . . .mostly sad.

 

We often ONLY think of Mary’s dilemma and the confusion, pain and embarrassment that she probably felt.  But the gospel today focuses on Joseph.  He was engaged to Mary.  It may have been an arranged marriage (which was common back then), but he probably knew her, because the town of Nazareth wasn’t very large. We assume he loved her. Then she tells him that she is pregnant and he knows the child is not his, what should he do? 

 

The scripture says that he was a righteous man and so would divorce her quietly (sort of like “breaking up the engagement”) it means probably not putting it on Social Media, but hoping that this whole thing “flies under the radar.”  For if word got out that she is pregnant and not married, it would be mean death for her, usually by stoning her to death. 

 

But then Joseph has a dream.  I believe that God speaks to us STILL in dreams, not the common “think through one’s day” dreams, but the significant ones.  And remember, with a dream, everything in it represents a part of you.  So pay attention to your dreams and be more receptive.  Anyway, the dreams changes everything for Joseph.  He can now move forward with this shocking news.  He does the right thing. 

 

How often have you NOT done the right thing, but instead did the easy thing.  That is, the convenient out.  And not faced the consequences.   What does doing the right thing mean?

 

A few years ago, there was a wonderful television ad about a boy who misses his Dad, who is overseas in military service.  He imagines that he can send letters to his dad in the form of paper airplanes. So one afternoon he goes out to his backyard and launches a fleet of letters he has written. [I demonstrate by throwing paper airplanes]. 

 

They sail over the six-foot fence and disappear into the sky. He hopes that the wind will take them and carry them to the place far away where his dad is serving.

 

But he doesn't see the paper planes land in the yard of the neighbor next door. The neighbor, an older gentleman, seems none too pleased to find this mess of paper on his lawn - until he reads them. He gathers them up, boxes them and sends them to the boy's father overseas. The dad sends the neighbor a box filled with his own paper airplane letters that he has written to his son. Then one afternoon, the neighbor launches the notes over the fence where the delighted six-year-old sees them and begins to catch them.

Doing the right thing doesn’t have to mean doing these huge monumental tasks . . . like Joseph did by sticking with Mary.  It could be the little things.  You may have all sorts of opportunities if you just pay attention . . . that smile, that hug, that apology, that little note that says, “thinking of you,” reaching out to that kid at school, letting your younger brother/sister play with your stuff.  It’s like the recent movie FROZEN II says, “Do the next right thing.”

 

After Saint Mother Teresa died, they found a list of insights pinned on her bedroom wall. She may not have written them, but she made them well known:

 

 People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered.  Forgive them anyway.

 If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives.  Be kind anyway.

 If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies.  Succeed anyway.

 

If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you.  Be honest and sincere anyway.

What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight.  Create anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous.  Be happy anyway.

 

The good you do today, will often be forgotten.  Do good anyway.

Give the best you have, and it will never be enough.  Give your best anyway.

In the final analysis, it is between you and God.  It was never between you and them anyway.

 

Mary and Joseph allowed God to work through them to produce something wonderful.  Maybe God is wanting to create something with you and through you.   So if you are not sure about doing this or doing that . . . do the right thing. 

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