The Rev. Noah Van Niel

The Chapel of the Cross

February 2, 2020

The Feast of the Presentation: Malachi 3:1-4; Psalm 24:7-10; Hebrews 2:14-18; Luke 2:22-40

            If you’ve been following the news the past few weeks, no doubt you have caught wind of the shockingly bold and unprecedented behavior coming from the historic halls of power. Behavior that has everyone up in arms, wondering what will happen if it is allowed to set a precedent. Behavior that has been dissected and chewed over for hours by two diametrically opposed sides, one of whom says, “Go for it, don’t listen to them.” While the other says, “This is a threat to the very foundations that uphold our country.” I’m talking, of course, about “Megxit.” No, not Brexit (though that was pretty big too). “Megxit.” This clever moniker was given by the British tabloids to the announcement by Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle that they would be “stepping back” from their royal duties. You know, Harry and Meghan, who got married so memorably at Windsor Castle less than two years ago; when Michael Curry preached and the day was happy and bright, well they have chosen to remove themselves from the hot glare of the monarchy’s spotlight. Rather than have their lives constantly invaded by an intrusive press, Harry and Meghan said, “No thank you. We refuse to be who you say we have to be. We choose to decline our destiny.”

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