Daily Readings - Tue Dec 17 2024
Genesis
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.
Matthew
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 are invited to reflect on the rich tapestry of God’s plan and the fulfillment of His promises. The first reading from Genesis 49 presents Jacob’s final blessing to his sons, with a particular focus on Judah. Jacob prophesies that Judah will be a leader, and the scepter will not depart from him until the Messiah comes. This passage is set in the context of Jacob’s final moments, where he gathers his sons to impart his blessings and set the stage for the future of Israel. The emphasis on Judah is significant, as it points to the tribe from which the Messiah will come.
The Gospel reading from Matthew 1 provides a genealogy of Jesus Christ, tracing His lineage from Abraham to Joseph, the husband of Mary. This genealogy is not merely a list of names; it is a theological statement that situates Jesus within the story of Israel. By structuring the genealogy into three groups of fourteen generations, Matthew highlights the divine order and plan that culminates in the birth of Jesus. The inclusion of figures like Tamar, Rahab, and Ruth—women often overlooked or marginalized—underscores God’s inclusive and merciful nature. This genealogy reminds us that Jesus is the fulfillment of the promises made to Abraham and David, and that He is the long-awaited Messiah prophesied in the first reading.
As we reflect on these readings, we are called to trust in God’s plan, even when it unfolds in unexpected ways. The genealogy of Jesus reminds us that our lives, like those of the ancestors, are part of a larger story. Just as Judah’s tribe was chosen to bear the Messiah, we too are called to bear witness to God’s love and mercy in our own time. Let us embrace our role in this ongoing story, living with faith, hope, and trust in the God who fulfills His promises.