Homilette for December 17, 2007

Monday, December 17, 2007

(Matthew 1:1-17)

On first seeing the genealogy in the Gospel either of Matthew or of Luke, we want to skip through the list. “What importance can they add to our understanding of Jesus?” we ask ourselves. “Much more than a normal person imagines,” is a just answer to our question. The two lists differ in places so it seems impossible that they both are historically accurate. But each relates important truths that the Church holds concerning Jesus and that has become part of our faith. They are like DNA codes that reveal something of a person’s innate character.

Since the gospel today relates Matthew’s genealogy we will limit our focus to its contents. Obviously, the list tells us that Jesus is indeed the son of David, the great king of Israel, and also the son of Abraham, to whom God made the promise of a blessing to all nations. Jesus is, we may say, the royal Messiah whom has God has sent to save the human race.

The list conveys a sense of the world’s readiness for salvation as it divides Jesus’ ancestors in three groups of fourteen generations. Matthew uses the convention of lists of seven or fourteen (two times seven) to give a sense of fulfillment, as seven is a full week and is said to signify perfection. Jesus represents the conclusion of three sets of fourteen, the conclusion of history. As the Christ, Jesus also ushers in a new age of grace.

Finally, the series refers to five women – Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba (“the wife of Uriah”), and Mary, the mother of Jesus. These remarkable women show how God works in unexpected even, given the truth of the virgin birth, unheard of ways to accomplish His ends.

Today we begin the final part of Advent, the immediate preparation for Christmas. We notice in the gospel acclamation the first of the great “O” antiphons which Israel used as titles for the Messiah and we adopt to call upon the Lord. Now more than ever we should take time from the hustle-bustle of the season to meditate. “Why do I need a savior?” each of us needs to ask. we might also contemplate, “How does the `wisdom of the ages’ (from today gospel acclamation) respond to my need?”