Daily Catholic Mass Readings for December 17, 2020
First Reading: Genesis 49.2, 8-10
2Gather yourselves together, and hear, ye sons of Jacob; and hearken unto Israel your father.8Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise: thy hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies; thy father's children shall bow down before thee.9Judah is a lion's whelp: from the prey, my son, thou art gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up?10The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.
Psalm 72
1Give the king thy judgments, O God, and thy righteousness unto the king's son.2He shall judge thy people with righteousness, and thy poor with judgment.3The mountains shall bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by righteousness.4He shall judge the poor of the people, he shall save the children of the needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor.5They shall fear thee as long as the sun and moon endure, throughout all generations.6He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass: as showers that water the earth.7In his days shall the righteous flourish; and abundance of peace so long as the moon endureth.8He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth.9They that dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him; and his enemies shall lick the dust.10The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents: the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts.11Yea, all kings shall fall down before him: all nations shall serve him.12For he shall deliver the needy when he crieth; the poor also, and him that hath no helper.13He shall spare the poor and needy, and shall save the souls of the needy.14He shall redeem their soul from deceit and violence: and precious shall their blood be in his sight.15And he shall live, and to him shall be given of the gold of Sheba: prayer also shall be made for him continually; and daily shall he be praised.16There shall be an handful of corn in the earth upon the top of the mountains; the fruit thereof shall shake like Lebanon: and they of the city shall flourish like grass of the earth.17His name shall endure for ever: his name shall be continued as long as the sun: and men shall be blessed in him: all nations shall call him blessed.18Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things.19And blessed be his glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen, and Amen.20The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended.
Gospel: Matthew 1.1-17
1The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.2Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren;3And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar; and Phares begat Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram;4And Aram begat Aminadab; and Aminadab begat Naasson; and Naasson begat Salmon;5And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse;6And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias;7And Solomon begat Roboam; and Roboam begat Abia; and Abia begat Asa;8And Asa begat Josaphat; and Josaphat begat Joram; and Joram begat Ozias;9And Ozias begat Joatham; and Joatham begat Achaz; and Achaz begat Ezekias;10And Ezekias begat Manasses; and Manasses begat Amon; and Amon begat Josias;11And Josias begat Jechonias and his brethren, about the time they were carried away to Babylon:12And after they were brought to Babylon, Jechonias begat Salathiel; and Salathiel begat Zorobabel;13And Zorobabel begat Abiud; and Abiud begat Eliakim; and Eliakim begat Azor;14And Azor begat Sadoc; and Sadoc begat Achim; and Achim begat Eliud;15And Eliud begat Eleazar; and Eleazar begat Matthan; and Matthan begat Jacob;16And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.17So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are 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.