Yesterday’s message was about the contrast in [St.] Joseph and society’s values today— the Christmas story from a different angle.
Joseph learnt about Mary’s pregnancy during their engagement, right before they were about to be wed.
Two things he could have done to save his dignity:
- Break off the engagement. This is from knowing that the law dictates you are not to sleep with a woman unless she is your wife and shall a woman be pregnant before you are to be wed, you shall end the engagement.
- Call the elders and break the news of Mary’s pregnancy. This is to save face and let Mary face humiliation alone.
Yet out of his love and respect for Mary, he thought about fleeing without breaking the news of her pregnancy. Effectively taking the blame with him.
He knew that if he disappears whilst Mary is pregnant, he will bear the shame for fulfilling the lust of the flesh and not taking responsibility thereafter. In Pinoy terms: nakuha lang ang gusto eh naglaho na.
By coming to his decision, his mind was set to protecting Mary despite him hurting from having been ‘cheated’.
- He never thought about how he can inflict the same pain to Mary.
- He never thought about how he can humiliate Mary to appease his ego.
In contrast, society these days light up at even the slightest mistake. Screenshot dito, video dyan, post muna, comment muna.
Aminin mo, isa ka sa mga naaaliw pag may nakita kang nagaaway sa social media. Minsan nakikisawsaw ka pa, “tag mo na yan!”, shinare mo pa with side comment.
Romans 12:2 says,
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
As Christmas and the New Year nears in, I hope we remind ourselves the value in choosing to do what is good and pleasing. Not to celebrate in someone else’s humiliation or project our pain on others.
I hope, just like Joseph, we would always choose to act out of love and respect.
