FRIDAY OF THE THIRD WEEK OF ADVENT, DECEMBER 17, 2021

MASS READINGS

A reading of the holy Gospel according to Mt 1:1-17

The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Abraham became the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers. Judah became the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar. Perez became the father of Hezron, Hezron the father of Ram, Ram the father of Amminadab. Amminadab became the father of Nahshon, Nahshon the father of Salmon, Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab. Boaz became the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth. Obed became the father of Jesse, Jesse the father of David the king. David became the father of Solomon, whose mother had been the wife of Uriah. Solomon became the father of Rehoboam, Rehoboam the father of Abijah, Abijah the father of Asaph. Asaph became the father of Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, Joram the father of Uzziah. Uzziah became the father of Jotham, Jotham the father of Ahaz, Ahaz the father of Hezekiah. Hezekiah became the father of Manasseh, Manasseh the father of Amos, Amos the father of Josiah. Josiah became the father of Jechoniah and his brothers at the time of the Babylonian exile. After the Babylonian exile, Jechoniah became the father of Shealtiel, Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel, Zerubbabel the father of Abiud. Abiud became the father of Eliakim, Eliakim the father of Azor, Azor the father of Zadok. Zadok became the father of Achim, Achim the father of Eliud, Eliud the father of Eleazar. Eleazar became the father of Matthan, Matthan the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary. Of her was born Jesus who is called the Christ. Thus the total number of generations from Abraham to David is fourteen generations; from David to the Babylonian exile, fourteen generations; from the Babylonian exile to the Christ, fourteen generations.

REFLECTION:

Thus the total number of generations from Abraham to David is fourteen generations; from David to the Babylonian exile, fourteen generations; from the Babylonian exile to the Christ, fourteen generations.

For me, the reading of the names which are, in some cases, not pronounceable, is one of the hardest gospels. I wonder how many times the lector practiced pronouncing the names and the names still come out as indiscernible. And is it necessary?

A resounding, "Yes". Though these are names, each one is a story of their relationship with God. Or as St Bonaventure would say, "The souls journey into God".

For years I believed that the God of the Old Testament was a God of Wrath and the God of the New Testament was a God of Love. And quite frankly this was very difficult to understand.

However...

From Genesis to the present we know that God does not change. The God in the New Testament, who sent His Son for our salvation, is the same God who revealed Himself to Moses as merciful, gracious and loving. He hates sin and wickedness and anyone who lives in sin will be punished if they don't seek forgiveness.

The God revealed in the Old Testament is the same God who is now revealing Himself in and through Jesus Christ. God's stunning love in the Old Testament becomes clearer in the New Testament as He has taken on flesh for our salvation, to live and teach us in the person of Jesus Christ. He is the long awaited Messiah, Son of David.

Next time we hear the genealogy of Jesus Christ, remember that all listed, except Christ, were not perfect. That, indeed, as prophesied, He is the Son of David. In fact, the family of Jesus Christ, the Son of Man, had quite a few skeletons in their closets.

Thought of the Day: Is it time to forgive or ask forgiveness of family members, including Church family, who have either betrayed us or we have betrayed them?

God Bless You