Daily Readings - Fri Dec 17 2021
Genesis
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
Matthew
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 the tapestry of God's plan, weaving together prophecy and fulfillment. The passage from Genesis presents Jacob's blessing upon Judah, foretelling a future where Judah's lineage will hold the scepter of leadership until the Messiah arrives. This prophecy points to a divine promise, highlighting Judah's strength and the enduring nature of his leadership.
The Gospel from Matthew unfolds this promise through the genealogy of Jesus, tracing His lineage from Abraham to Joseph. This meticulous record serves as a testament to God's faithfulness, illustrating how each generation played a part in the grand narrative leading to Jesus. The genealogy not only confirms Jesus' rightful place as the Messiah but also underscores the fulfillment of Jacob's prophecy, where the scepter of leadership transitions to Jesus, the Lion of Judah.
Reflecting on these readings, we are reminded to trust in God's timing and plan. Just as the ancestors in faith lived with integrity, awaiting the Messiah's arrival, we too are called to live virtuously, trusting in God's providence. Let us embrace our role in God's ongoing story, living with faith and hope, knowing that His plan unfolds in His perfect time.