Wednesday, December 17, 2014





Wednesday of the Third Week of Advent

(Genesis 49:2.8-10; Matthew 1:1-17)

Today the “O” Antiphons launch the Church’s proximate preparation for Christmas.  These verses, which make up the traditional carol “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel,” convey the desire of all good people for a savior.  Today’s verse pictures the savior as wisdom which will distinguish helpful knowledge from vanity.

The gospel reading traces Jesus’ lineage through David and Judah to Abraham.  It goes through Solomon, the Jewish father of wisdom.  More importantly, it exemplifies the order that wisdom creates – forty-two generations from Abraham to Jesus, divided into three groups of fourteen, which itself is twice the number of perfection.

If one could make a Christmas request, wisdom would make a worthy choice.  It rounds out a good life with the dual senses of gratitude for what we have and patience for what we lack. When we seek wisdom in Jesus, we appreciate him as a life-long companion who will guide truly us to our destiny.