Friday 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 make up the traditional carol “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.” They express the yearning of all good people
for a savior. Today’s verse pictures the
savior as wisdom. This gift from God distinguishes
what expands one’s soul from what builds up one’s ego.
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. There are forty-two
generations from Abraham to Jesus. They
are divided into three groups of fourteen.
This is twice the so-called perfect number.
