Matthew 1:1-17

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by TeacherChrizzell

by TeacherChrizzell

December 17, 2020
#GospelReflectionChallenge

'Family Tree'

This must be the Gospel that we feel too lazy to read or to listen, since they are all about names, some of them are familliar, but most of them are not, some are even difficult to pronounce! But scholars agree that this is one of the best introductions of a book in the Bible. Just like in a modern TV series, where an episode includes a clip of what happened in the previous episodes so to better understand the events of the current episode, the author of this book, which is the first of the New Testament rightly summarizes the events of the Old Testament before he narrates the Gospel.

There are about 42 names in the genealogy and I leave it to your research their significance in the Story of Salvation. But we can group these names into three.

KNOWN SAINTS. There are heroes of faith in the list of the ancestors of Jesus. Abraham, the Father of the Jewish people and the model of faith; Jacob, founder of the twelve tribes of Israel; David, the king who ushered the Golden Age, to name a few. THIS PROVES THAT JESUS IS NOT JUST AN ORDINARY PERSON. He is of royal lineage. HE IS THE KING WHO IS TO COME.

KNOWN SINNERS. Perhaps the one that I mentioned previously also belonged in this category. Abraham although a man of faith was also a liar. Jacob deceived his father and brother. David committed adultery and murder. The women mentioned in the genealogy also illustrates the "scandal" of Jesus' ancestry --- Tamar was impregnated by Judah, her father-in-law; Ruth was a Moabite, not part of God's chosen people; Rahab was a prostitute and the wife of Uriah, Batsheba was the woman to whom David had an affair. Why did Matthew included these women with bad reputation? Maybe, he is telling the truth that GOD USES US, FRAIL AND SINFUL MEN AND WOMEN, to be part of His plan of redemption. No matter how misfit we think we are, how ugly our past may be, GOD CAN MAKE STRAIGHT LINES OUT OF CROOKED ONES.

BUNCH OF UNKNOWNS. Who is Azor? Zadok? Achim? We do not know. But whoever they are, God called them. They may be unknowns but their roles are as important as Abraham or Jacob or David. Through Azor, Zadok, Achim and other bunch of unknowns, the Messiah was born. WHOEVER YOU ARE, NO MATTER HOW POOR, HUMBLE OR SIMPLE YOU ARE, YOU ARE IMPORTANT IN GOD'S EYES. We may not see it now, but God is at work in us and every life is meaningful because in any way, we influence the turn of events around us.

And the genealogy does not end in Jesus who fathered no one biologically. Jesus called Andrew who also called Peter who also called other disciples. By discipleship, WE ARE PART OF JESUS' FAMILY TREE. And by calling others to become disciples, we allow this Tree to grow and expand. "Whoever does the will of my Father is my brother, sister and mother." (Mt 12:50)

PRAYER
Father, creator and redeemer of humankind, You decreed and Your Word became a human being, born of the Virgin Mary. May we come to share the divinity of Christ, who humbled Himself to share in our humanity.

Ctto: Seminarian's Notbuk
PS: Nung nabasa ko to. Wala na akong masabi. Hehehehe