Wednesday of the
Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time
(Genesis 41:55-57.42:5-7a.17-24a; Matthew 10:1-7)
Matthew begins his gospel with a list of names tracing the
lineage of Jesus. He starts with
Abraham, the receptor of God’s promise to create a chosen people, and ends with
Jesus, whom Christians believe culminates that promise’s fulfilment. Matthew mentions a few women – like Rahab and
Ruth -- whose extraordinary circumstances indicate God’s hand guiding the
process despite the people’s shortcomings.
In today’s gospel Matthew provides another list of
names. In one sense, these twelve men provide
a counterweight to those of the previous list.
As the Old Testament figures lead up to Jesus, the apostles will carry Jesus’
name to the world. In another sense,
however, they are similar to Jesus’ ancestors.
Many of them seem unlikely group to carry out the work of growing an
institution. Once again we have a sense of
God’s direction.
We should see ourselves as part of still another list of
people connected to Jesus with similarities to the ones already mentioned. As the first group comprised Jesus’
ancestors, we are his spiritual descendants.
And like the apostles we are called by Jesus to bring growth to his Church
by caring for one another and by professing Jesus’ name wherever we go.
