Tuesday of the Third Week of Advent

READINGS

Gospel 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, 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

The genealogy of Jesus is always read on Christmas Eve. It is also read in Advent.

What is the reason for the Church to have the Gospels of Matthew or Luke give the listing of the lineage of Jesus Christ before Christmas Day?

How far back can you remember your great, great, great grandparents? People like to research their ancestors to find someone famous in their family and to learn what they accomplished. This information can be shared with the rest of their family.

Families within the last 150 years use to record their heritage in a family tree which was placed in the front of their family Bible. When a young couple in the family were joined in the Sacrament of Matrimony, they would receive a gift of a Bible with their familiys' tree in it.

The Israelites had passed down their history from Adam or even Abraham to Joseph and Mary and finally to Jesus. Their ancestors verified the Old Testament prophesies and the covenant God made with Abraham and later with King David. Matthew begins his gospel with, "The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham." He is presenting the evidence that Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of the covenant between God and Abraham and later between God and King David.

The Holy Catholic Church reminds us that Jesus Christ, the annointed one, is our savior. The Church wants us to rejoice and spread the Good News about God the Father’s plan to save us through His beloved Son, Jesus Christ.

Let us prepare for the coming of Jesus. Here is the Christmas Novena Meditation 2 for December 17th.