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Saturday of the Third Week of Advent
Genesis 49:2, 8-10
Psalm 72:1-2, 3-4AB, 7-8, 17
Matthew 1:1-17
Summary
Judah/Israel is favored by the Father. Judah will always hold the scepter and
like a lion, shall triumph over the enemies, always receiving tribute from the
people.
The genealogy of Jesus – from Abraham to Jesus.
Reflection
When I was a child, one of the first Bible stories I remember hearing was
about the baby Jesus, Mary & Joseph – the family at the center of the
Christmas story in the Gospel of Luke. It wasn’t until many years later while
taking a religious studies class in college that I (intentionally) read the begin-
ning of Matthew that outlines the genealogy of Jesus. Now, many
many
years later that I am reflecting again on this lineage and it reminds me of
family.
With only a few notable exceptions, these names are mentioned only once –
here in Matthew. These people and their families are in the distant past and
long forgotten.
Many of us have family members that are far-flung, those to whom we were
close in the past but because of time and distance, we no longer have the
same relationship. We also have family members who may be physically
close but we hold them at arm’s length due to the current circumstances:
bad life choices, work or volunteer schedules, past squabbles or slights or
even differing political leanings. Our friends and neighbors may become our
substitute family as a result of commonalities
and proximity, but even then we may put up
a barrier to true familiarity. The world grows
smaller, faster and ever more connected but
we seem to have a tendency to disengage
from those we most cherish.
Reach out this holiday season – reach out to