Daily Catholic Mass Readings for December 17, 2020
First Reading: Genesis 49.2, 8-10
2Gather together and listen, O sons of Jacob. Listen to Israel, your father8Judah, your brothers will praise you. Your hand will be at the necks of your enemies; the sons of your father will reverence you9Judah is a lion’s young. You have gone up to the prey, my son. While resting, you have lain like a lion. And just like a lioness, who would rouse him10The scepter from Judah and the leader from his thigh will not be taken away, until he who will be sent arrives, and he will be the expectation of Gentiles
Psalm 72
1A Psalm according to Solomon2Give your judgment, O God, to the king, and your justice to the king’s son, to judge your people with justice and your poor with judgment3Let the mountains take up peace for the people, and the hills, justice4He will judge the poor of the people, and he will bring salvation to the sons of the poor. And he will humble the false accuser5And he will remain, with the sun and before the moon, from generation to generation6He will descend like rain upon fleece, and like showers showering upon the earth7In his days, justice will rise like the sun, with abundance of peace, until the moon is taken away8And he will rule from sea to sea and from the river to the limits of the whole world9In his sight, the Ethiopians will fall prostrate, and his enemies will lick the ground10The kings of Tarshish and the islands will offer gifts. The kings of Arabia and of Seba will bring gifts11And all the kings of the earth shall adore him. All nations will serve him12For he will free the poor from the powerful, and the poor one who has no helper13He will spare the poor and the indigent, and he will bring salvation to the souls of the poor14He will redeem their souls from usuries and from iniquity, and their names shall be honorable in his sight15And he will live, and to him will be given from the gold of Arabia, and by him they will always adore. They will bless him all day long16And there will be a firmament on earth, at the summits of mountains: its fruits will be extolled above Lebanon, and those of the city will flourish like the grass of the earth17May his name be blessed forever; may his name remain before the sun. And all the tribes of the earth will be blessed in him. All nations will magnify him18Blessed is the Lord, God of Israel, who alone does wondrous things19And blessed is the name of his majesty in eternity. And all the earth will be filled with his majesty. Amen. Amen20The praises of David, the son of Jesse, have reached an end
Gospel: Matthew 1.1-17
1The book of the lineage of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham2Abraham conceived Isaac. And Isaac conceived Jacob. And Jacob conceived Judah and his brothers3And Judah conceived Perez and Zerah by Tamar. And Perez conceived Hezron. And Hezron conceived Ram4And Ram conceived Amminadab. And Amminadab conceived Nahshon. And Nahshon conceived Salmon5And Salmon conceived Boaz by Rahab. And Boaz conceived Obed by Ruth. And Obed conceived Jesse6And Jesse conceived king David. And king David conceived Solomon, by her who had been the wife of Uriah7And Solomon conceived Rehoboam. And Rehoboam conceived Abijah. And Abijah conceived Asa8And Asa conceived Jehoshaphat. And Jehoshaphat conceived Joram. And Joram conceived Uzziah9And Uzziah conceived Jotham. And Jotham conceived Ahaz. And Ahaz conceived Hezekiah10And Hezekiah conceived Manasseh. And Manasseh conceived Amos. And Amos conceived Josiah11And Josiah conceived Jechoniah and his brothers in the transmigration of Babylon12And after the transmigration of Babylon, Jechoniah conceived Shealtiel. And Shealtiel conceived Zerubbabel13And Zerubbabel conceived Abiud. And Abiud conceived Eliakim. And Eliakim conceived Azor14And Azor conceived Zadok. And Zadok conceived Achim. And Achim conceived Eliud15And Eliud conceived Eleazar. And Eleazar conceived Matthan. And Matthan conceived Jacob16And Jacob conceived Joseph, the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ17And so, all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David to the transmigration of Babylon, fourteen generations; and from the transmigration of Babylon to the Christ, fourteen generations
Sermon
In today's readings, we journey through two pivotal passages that weave together the tapestry of God's plan. The first reading from Genesis 49:2, 8-10 captures Jacob's final blessing over his sons, with a particular emphasis on Judah. Jacob prophesies that the scepter will not depart from Judah, signaling the coming of a great leader, the Messiah. This passage is set in the context of Jacob's last moments, imparting wisdom and prophetic vision to his sons, highlighting Judah's significant role in Israel's future.
The Gospel from Matthew 1:1-17 presents Jesus' genealogy, tracing His lineage from Abraham to Joseph, the husband of Mary. This list of names, often overlooked, is a testament to God's faithfulness across generations. It connects the prophecy from Genesis to its fulfillment in Jesus, the Messiah from Judah. Matthew's genealogy bridges the Old and New Testaments, illustrating how Jesus is the culmination of God's promises.
Reflecting on these readings, we see the importance of trust and patience in God's timing. The generations between Jacob and Jesus remind us that our role in God's story is unique, yet part of a larger narrative. Each name in Jesus' genealogy, like each of us, contributes to the unfolding of God's plan. This teaches us to trust in God's providence, even when His timing seems slow, and to recognize our place within His greater story.
In conclusion, these readings invite us to embrace patience and trust in God's plan. Just as the Messiah came after many generations, we too can trust that God is working through us and our circumstances. Let us find comfort and purpose in being part of His ongoing story, knowing that each moment is a step towards His ultimate fulfillment.