Daily Readings - Tue Dec 17 2024
Genesis
2"Assemble and listen, sons of Jacob; listen to your father Israel.8"Judah, your brothers will praise you; your hand will be on the neck of your enemies; your father's sons will bow down to you.9You are a lion's cub, O Judah; you return from the prey, my son. Like a lion he crouches and lies down, like a lioness-who dares to rouse him?10The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, until he comes to whom it belongs and the obedience of the nations is his.
Matthew
1A record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ the son of David, the son of Abraham:2Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers,3Judah the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar, Perez the father of Hezron, Hezron the father of Ram,4Ram the father of Amminadab, Amminadab the father of Nahshon, Nahshon the father of Salmon,5Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab, Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth, Obed the father of Jesse,6and Jesse the father of King David. David was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah's wife,7Solomon the father of Rehoboam, Rehoboam the father of Abijah, Abijah the father of Asa,8Asa the father of Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat the father of Jehoram, Jehoram the father of Uzziah,9Uzziah the father of Jotham, Jotham the father of Ahaz, Ahaz the father of Hezekiah,10Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, Manasseh the father of Amon, Amon the father of Josiah,11and Josiah the father of Jeconiah and his brothers at the time of the exile to Babylon.12After the exile to Babylon: Jeconiah was the father of Shealtiel, Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel,13Zerubbabel the father of Abiud, Abiud the father of Eliakim, Eliakim the father of Azor,14Azor the father of Zadok, Zadok the father of Akim, Akim the father of Eliud,15Eliud the father of Eleazar, Eleazar the father of Matthan, Matthan the father of Jacob,16and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.17Thus there were fourteen generations in all from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Christ.
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.