< <  

Tuesday, December 17, 1996

  > >
Genesis 49:2, 8-10
Psalm 72
Matthew 1:1-17

View Readings
Similar Reflections

people-person

"A family record of Jesus Christ, son of David, son of Abraham. Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers." —Matthew 1:1- 2

God, being the Creator and the Trinity-family, loves genealogies. Because He loves to list the members of His chosen people, there are many genealogies in the Old Testament. The Lord even begins the New Testament by tracing the genealogy of Joseph and Jesus.

God loves genealogies because He loves:

  • PEOPLE — Human persons are the crown of creation because we are created in the image and likeness of God (Gn 1:27).
  • The PAST — The Holy Spirit has not started working just recently. The past is charged with God's grace and is the basis for God's work in the present and future.
  • PREGNANCY — In the Bible, the Lord lists person after person who "begat" (KJV) someone else. The Lord commanded us to "be fertile and multiply" (Gn 1:28). The Lord came to give us life to the full (Jn 10:10). He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life (Jn 14:6).
  • PARENTS — The Lord loves parents so much that He even became incarnate and has His own parents. God has parents.

    • This partially explains God's love for genealogies and for you. God loves you amazingly, unconditionally, perfectly, and infinitely. This is the meaning of Christmas and of life.

    Prayer:  Father, thank You for loving people and me so much that You gave Your Son to die for us (see Jn 3:16).

    Promise:  "The scepter shall never depart from Judah." —Gn 49:10

    Praise:  Gloria's grandmother prayed in perseverance and faith for her to return to the Church. Jesus honored her prayers and enabled her to see her granddaughter receive Him.

    Nihil Obstat:  Reverend Edward J. Gratsch, June 20, 1996


    Imprimatur:  †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, June 26, 1996