Gospel: Matthew 1:1-17
This is the account of the genealogy 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.
Judah was the father of Perez and Zerah (their mother was Tamar), Perez was the father of Hezron, and Hezron of Aram. Aram was the father of Aminadab, Aminadab of Nahshon, Nah shon of Salmon.
Salmon was the father of Boaz. His mother was Rahab. Boaz was the father of Obed. His mother was Ruth. Obed was the father of Jesse.
Jesse was the father of David, the king. David was the father of Solomon. His mother had been Uriah’s wife.
Solomon was the father of Rehoboam. Then came the kings: Abijah, Asaph, Jehoshaphat, Joram, Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, Hezekiah, Manasseh, Amon, Josiah.
Josiah was the father of Jechoniah and his brothers at the time of the deportation to Babylon.
After the deportation to Babylon, Jechoniah was the father of Salathiel and Salathiel of Zerubbabel.
Zerubbabel was the father of Abiud, Abiud of Eliakim, and Eliakim of Azor. Azor was the father of Zadok, Zadok the father of Akim, and Akim the father of Eliud. Eliud was the
father of Eleazar, Eleazar of Matthan, and Matthan of Jacob. Jacob was the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, and from her came Jesus who is called the Christ —the Messiah. There were then fourteen generations from Abraham to David, and fourteen generations from David to the deportation to Babylon, and fourteen generations from the deportation to Babylon to the birth of Christ.
Reflections
“from her came Jesus who is called the Christ — the Messiah.”
My priesthood was also happily spent in the seminary, where I would accompany students who are preparing themselves for the priesthood. It is always a joy to see them ordained after years of their toil. It is perfect for the Church, perfect for me and other formators and perfect for the faithful.
“It is perfect” means God has blessed them. Like the first reading which showcases the blessing of Jacob to Judah, with its joyful accolades and certain assurances. “It is perfect” means that every vocation always comes in God’s perfect time. The Gospel, portraying the triple fourteen generations tells us that God saves us in His perfect time.
The season of Advent reminds that God will always save, accompany and sustain us when we truly believe in His loving plan for us. With this faith, we could all the more utter “it is perfect”.
© Copyright Bible Diary 2019
