In the movie, Encanto, we are introduced to a very special family: the Madrigals. Each member of the Madrigal family has been blessed with a distinct gift of grace. The entire movie is comprised of 7 songs where we hear many different voices. Each voice expresses who they are and how they fit into the Madrigal family. Some express an earnest desire for a “higher” gift, while others express the pressures of having a certain gift. It isn’t until the very end of the film when this polyphony comes together to form All of You.
1 Corinthians 12 and Romans 12
“For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them…” Each member of the Madrigal family was given a different gift of grace. And similar to the giving of the Spirit after Christ’s sacrifice for His Bride, a Miracle was given to Pedro’s family after he sacrificed his life.
“What are the gifts? I can’t remember all of the gifts!” The village children excitedly exclaimed as they tugged on Mirabel’s arm.
For to one was given through the Miracle the gift of affecting the weather, and to another by the same Miracle the ability to heal with a meal, to another prophecy, to another hearing, to another shape shifting, to another super strength, and to another the gift of gracefulness.
All of these were empowered by one and the same Miracle, who apportioned (or not) to each one individually as it willed. The Miracle, not only blessed Pedro’s family with gifts, but it also blessed them with a living and active Casita.
Certain gifts, like super strength, were bestowed great honor (the weight of the entire world was put on Luisa’s shoulders). While other gifts, like prophecy, were despised and seen as unpresentable (Bruno was blamed for dead fish, big guts, and baldness). And the entire foundation and identity of the family and their household became about giftings. Because of this, their Casita collapsed.
The Church is similar to the Madrigal family in that it is composed of many members with many different gifts. When they come together in love, it is a beautiful picture that displays All of [Christ]. Yet if the focus is directed towards the individual and their gifts, the Church will collapse. She must exercise her gifts in harmony like a madrigal.
“For the body does not consist of one member but of many.” There are dangers when the Church becomes so infatuated with the variety of gifts. And these dangers are accurately illustrated in Mirabel’s sisters.
On the one hand, there is Luisa. Her gift of strength is bestowed with great honor. And because of it, she is heavily depended on…by everyone. And even though she is marked by humility, and would never look to another member of the Madrigal family and say: “I have no need of you,” there is still a real sense in which the whole infatuation that everyone has with the gifts causes her to feel the weight and pressure to bear every burden. It is important for us to honor each member and their gifts. Yet, we must be careful so as to not define someone’s identity by their gift. When the member who is gifted in evangelism is defined by being “the Evangelist”, it is possible (and very likely) for them to enter depression when the Lord is not giving the growth. Or the member who is gifted in hospitality– if they are defined by being the “the Most Hospitable in the Church”, it is possible for them to feel burnt out when they cannot have everyone over. I think that it is very important for us to honor and acknowledge others’ gifts. We just need to make sure that our words of honor don’t create a pressure that leads to a “drip, drip, drip that’ll never stop.”
On the other hand, there is Isabela. And she represents the danger of a facade. Similar to Luisa, Isabela felt the weight and pressure of pleasing her family. Halfway through the movie, we find out that she never wanted to marry Mariano. “[She] was doing it for the family!” And it was at this moment, in making a cactus, when she realized that all of this pressure had caused her to put on a facade of perfection. And it was actually okay and good for her to produce something that wasn’t symmetrical and perfect. This not only freed her up to be genuine and authentic, it also led to a blessing for her cousin, Dolores. This authenticity is also necessary in the Church. All too often, people just want everything to look good on the outside (even when the entire Casita is cracking from within). They are afraid that if their imperfections show, the Church will not stand. And facades are contagious; it’s harder for people to show the cracks in their lives when they don’t see the cracks in others’ lives. The lesson from Isabela is meant to show us the pitfall of “doing it for the family” or “doing it for the Body”. We must “do it for the Head of the Body”.
1 Corinthians 13
At the onset of the movie, we are led to believe that Mirabel was left without a gift. And yet from the opening sequence, it is clear that Mirabel is very different. And I’m not just referring to the fact that she is different from the rest of the Madrigals. No, she is very different from every other Disney protagonist ever. Rather than chasing after her own desires and pursuit of self worth, Mirabel looks outside of herself– to the good of others.
Although she is constantly reminded that she wasn’t apportioned a gift, she never dwells on her poor circumstance. Rather she patiently hopes for and [Waits] On A Miracle. When her cousin, Antonio, struggles to find courage on his big day, Mirabel extends kindness to comfort him and walk him down the path to receive a gift that she herself was denied. It is clear in The Family Madrigal that Mirabel is content just being a part of the family. She does not envy her sisters’ gifts. Rather, she boasts, not of herself, but of her family members. And although there is a scene where she calls her sister a “selfish entitled princess”, it is not arrogant or rude; it’s simply the truth. Even when every member of her family rubs her differences in her face, she is never irritable or resentful. She loves them and wants to serve them no matter what. Even her misunderstood Tio Bruno– she seeks to exonerate him that she might rejoice with the truth.
Mirabel was blessed with something far greater than super strength and grace…or even the ability to speak in the tongues of men and of animals. She was given love. And while strength would cease. Love never ended. It was her love (“bring it in, bring it in”) that reunited the Madrigals and became the foundation of their Casita. As stated in All of You, each member was more than just their gifts. And it was Mirabel who showed them that their foundation could not be their gifts; their foundation had to be love.
Likewise, the Church. Period.
Romans 6
“We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.”
When God changes His people, He does not simply give them an external makeover. No, He completely changes their inner being. In order for the new creation to come, the old self must be cast off; it must be put to death. When speaking about the resurrection, Paul said: “What you sow does not come to life unless it dies.” God has so ordained that death would precede life. And this happens in the life of every believer. They must die to their sinful nature in order that they might be raised to walk in newness of life. We see this so beautifully illustrated in baptism. The believer goes under the water, symbolizing their death and burial. And they are then brought out of the water which symbolizes the union of their resurrection with Jesus. And so, in the life of every believer, there is always death before life.
We even see this in nature. Death precedes life and beauty. Consider The Very Hungry Caterpillar. In this childhood classic, we see a big, fat, caterpillar transformed into a beautiful butterfly. And this doesn’t just happen overnight or by its own self will. In order for there to be a true change in beauty, the caterpillar has to be buried (in a cocoon). And only after its burial, can it be raised to newness of life.
And this— this is the subtle mystery that everything in Encanto hinges upon. And it’s so subtle. If you’re not paying close attention, you’ll completely miss it.
“Butterfly! Follow the butterfly!” This was the turning point in Bruno’s vision. When all hope seemed lost, it was the butterfly that led them to see a reed, and then the candle, and then “the embrace”. And from that point on, our attention was focused on “the embrace” and how Mirabel would somehow get a hug out of her sister. But, I want to go back to the butterfly. Let’s follow the butterfly. This is the linchpin!
The next time that we see this butterfly is when Mirabel is near the water with her Abuela Alma. And as Alma recollects how she met Pedro, and his love for their family, we hear the song Dos Oruguitas: meaning two caterpillars. And as her memories unfold, we see Pedro entering into the waters, out of love for his family, and being put to death there. However, Pedro is not Jesus. So, he was not raised back to life. But, we do see a reed, a sign of life, growing in the place where there was death. And as Alma humbled herself and went into the waters, where her husband had been buried, and confessed her sin, she too was raised up as Mirabel stood there honoring her life. And as they embraced, the singer of Dos Oruguitas cries out: “Ay! Mariposas!” And swarms of butterflies fluttered around them. It was a certain death that brought about life. The caterpillars had to be in a cocoon before they could fly as beautiful butterflies. Abuela Alma had to be brought low before her prayer of “open my eyes” could be answered. And the Casita had to be brought down in order for it to be raised up. And so it was that this one scene became the most pivotal moment in the movie. Only through the death of the Madrigal family could it be raised up on a new foundation of love.
Church Symbolism
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- Dolores = the church gossip
- Camilo = hypocrite (actor or false appearance)
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