The Genealogy of Jesus

Today's Reflections

The Genealogy of Jesus 

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Mt 1:1-17

¹The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

²Abraham became the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers. ³Judah became the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar. ... Boaz became the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth. Obed became the father of Jesse, ⁶Jesse the father of David the king.

David became the father of Solomon, whose mother had been the wife of Uriah. ⁷Solomon became the father of Rehoboam, Rehoboam the father of Abijah, Abijah the father of Asaph. ... ¹⁰Hezekiah became the father of Manasseh, Manasseh the father of Amos, Amos the father of Josiah. ¹¹Josiah became the father of Jechoniah and his brothers at the time of the Babylonian exile.

... Zadok became the father of Achim, Achim the father of Eliud, ¹⁵Eliud the father of Eleazar. Eleazar became the father of Matthan, Matthan the father of Jacob, ¹⁶Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary. Of her was born Jesus who is called the Messiah.

¹⁷Thus the total number of generations from Abraham to David is fourteen generations; from David to the Babylonian exile, fourteen generations; from the Babylonian exile to the Messiah, fourteen generations.

Reflection:

The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ. The Gospel gives us the family tree of Jesus. The genealogy highlights the three periods in Jewish history. The first, from Abraham to David, marks the destiny of Israel for greatness. The second, from David to the Babylonian captivity, records Israel’s fall. And the third, from the Babylonian captivity to the birth of Jesus, shows Israel’s restoration.

The passage also pictures the history of man’s salvation. God creates man in his image and likeness, destined to greatness. Then man sins and falls from grace. God sends his only Son, Jesus Christ, to restore man to his greatness and to the grace of God.

We have been created to be with God. Even though we falter many times, God does not give up on us. God is faithful to his promise to redeem us. God will continue to give us the grace to lead us back home to him.

I will do my best and offer everything to God.