Readings: Genesis 49:2, 8-10
Matthew 1:1-17
”…the
genealogy of Jesus Christ,
the son
of David, the son of Abraham.”
In today's second Misa de
Gallo, we have the Matthean version of the genealogy of Jesus for our gospel.
We may wonder why our liturgy has selected these series of names for our good
news. At first glance, it really seems difficult to draw some evangelical
lessons out of these names. But not really. The fact that Matthew begins his gospel with this genealogy shows that this forms
an integral part of the whole evangelical message he wants to impart. Among
others, therefore, we have these following points for meditation.
1. The genealogy teaches us
the importance of Christ's historical identity. Here, we have two very
significant terms: history and identity. By history, we always
mean tine and place. Such concepts are absolutely important in trying to
understand the mystery of the Incarnation. Expressed briefly, the Incarnation
means: the Eternal God comes in a particular time and in a particular place.
Thus, the God who was once not in any way subject to the limits of time and
place has submitted himself to such human limitation just for our sake.
What immediately follows
from the concept of historicity is identity. By human standards, the
first question asked to an unknown person is, Who are you? And by his
answer, he identifies himself to a particular family or lineage. In such cases,
our genealogy speaks of and for what we are. And here, we learn the wisdom of
the old saying: “A tree is known by its fruit,” or reversely, "by
knowing the tree, we know its fruit.”
2. This is precisely the
case of Jesus. By his genealogy, he identifies himself as “Son of David.” This
identity is not merely secular but deeply religious us and cultural. It is
embedded in the long history of the Jews as the chosen race. Thus, the
messiahship of Christ traces back to what the prophets of old would foretell.
He shall come from the stock of Jesse, establishing then the Davidic lineage.
True, the Messiah is God. But as he enters into human history, he lives a life
fully human. Thus, he needs an ancestry to identify himself to, he needs a
family to belong to. But although he is fully human,
he is no ordinary man either. As the Messiah, he is undoubtedly a great figure
both politically and religiously. In fact, this is the concept of Israel's
Messiah. Now, David is Israel's greatest king both in the standards of man and
of God. This messiah, therefore, must be a Son of David.
3. The genealogy
teaches us about divine providence, and more, about the divine plan of God.
Meaning, all that happens in this world happens not by chance but by choice.
Look. Think.
Jesus neither came out of
the blues nor did he come before or after he actually did. And when he indeed came,
he came as a Son of David. But far from being grandiose as to be of
royal lineage, he came among the poorest of the poor. Why? - - - Not only that,
Surprisingly, the genealogy includes some women in the list. First, we have
Tamar who, in her determination to secure her right to an offspring, which was
refused by Judah, disguised herself as a prostitute and seduced her
father-in-law, Judah himself. Second, we have Rahab, a real prostitute, who
allied with the Jews in conquering Jericho. Third, we have Ruth the Moabite, a
non-Jew who ended up marrying Naomi’s kinsman Boaz. And lastly, we have
Batsheba, Uriah's wife, who committed adultery with David. And again, we ask, why?
There could be as many
answers as there are many minds that think. But perhaps there seems only one,
which is closest, i.e., because these things proceed from God's definite
choice. The fact that they happened just the way they did suggests that such
must have been the best of all possible choices that God could ever make.
4. Life at times runs this
way too. Some people point to their family tree
with pride and honor. Others look at their lineage with some sorrow and
regrets. And perhaps a few do not and cannot point to any at all simply because
they don't have, or better, because they don't know what family they do belong
to. This is truly a sad situation. But it is never a desperate and hopeless
one. Nothing happens by chance. Everything happens by choice. We are more than the lilies in the field. We
are more than the birds of the air. We are more than the fishes in the ocean.
We always belong to a family. Of course, if not to a human family whom we can
point out to, we have God's family where we can always find love, peace and security. Indeed, nothing happens by
chance, everything happens by choice!