As we approach Christmas, there are specific readings for daily Masses on the final eight days before Christmas. The gospel readings focus on the events just before the birth of Jesus including the announcements of the pending births of John the Baptist and Jesus.
It begins on December 17th (which was a Sunday this year, so we heard the Sunday readings at Mass) when the genealogy of Jesus is read from Matthew’s gospel (Matthew 1:1-17). Together with the story of Joseph accepting the role of Jesus’ foster father, it can be the gospel for the vigil Mass on Christmas Eve (Matthew 1:1-25).
Why is the genealogy of Jesus read for the time leading up to Jesus’ birth? We might also ask why the Gospel of Matthew begins with the genealogy of Jesus. It’s a long list of names (three sets of fourteen generations) that we don’t know how to pronounce or know much about who many of them are. Why bother to read it?
Because it says something about who Jesus is.
It also says something about how we might fit into God’s plan of salvation.
Today there is interest by many people to have their genes tested to know where their families came from. Genetic testing can tell what countries one’s families are from.
For the Jews of Jesus’ time on earth it was important to know one’s ancestry as it pointed to their identity as Jews. Abraham was their father in faith. The long-awaited Messiah was to be a descendant of David.
The genealogy of Jesus tells us that Jesus is both a son of Abraham and a Son of David. Without this ancestry, He could not be the Messiah. The Gospel of Matthew places great importance on showing that Jesus is the fulfillment of the prophecies of a Messiah. Thus Matthew begins with the genealogy of Jesus.
The genealogy is broken down into three sets of fourteen generations. For us as Christians, three is an important number representing God as Trinity. Fourteen is seven doubled, seven signifying completion/whole (seven days of creation). Fourteen is also the numerical value in the Hebrew counting of the letters in the name of David.
The three sets begin/end with key figures or pivotal moments in Jewish history. It begins with Abraham who in faith was a righteous man, doing whatever God told him, even willing to sacrifice his son Isaac (Genesis 22:1-19). Because of Abraham’s faithfulness, God promised him that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars. The first set of three generations ends with David. David was the greatest king Israel ever had.
The second set of fourteen generations begins with David, a high point in the history of Israel. It ends on a low point, the Babylonian Exile. Because of their sins, God allowed their enemies to defeat them. The nation of Israel fell.
The third set of fourteen generations begins at the low point of Israel’s history, the Babylonian Exile. It ends with the culmination of Salvation history, the birth of the Messiah, our Savior Jesus Christ.
The genealogy of Jesus is very important for us to know that Jesus is a descendant of Abraham, our father in faith, and is a Son of David. It is also important for us to know who is part of the genealogy of Jesus.
If one knew nothing of Old Testament history, one might assume that Jesus’ ancestors were all devout Jews who always lived as the Lord instructed. From that, one might assume that sinners do not have a place in God’s plan. These assumptions would be completely incorrect.
The genealogy of Jesus does include faithful Jews. There is Abraham. Then comes Isaac followed by Jacob. Jewish heritage gave primacy to the first born son but Jacob was not Isaac’s firstborn. Esau was but Jacob is the one through whom the ancestry flows. God’s plan is for all, not just the firstborn sons.
There are also sinners in the lineage. Yes, David was a great king but even he was a sinner. Verse 6 of the genealogy specifically reminds us of David’s sin with the mother of Uriah who would become the mother of Solomon through whom the lineage flowed.
Solomon then took the throne and asked for God’s blessing in the gift of wisdom (1 Kings 3:5-15). This passage is immediately followed by 1 Kings 3:16-28 where the wisdom of Solomon is demonstrated in how he decides who the real mother of a child is.
Solomon began as a great king. Unfortunately, by the end of his time, things were not so good. He allowed human ways to take over. After his death, the kingdom divided and eventually fell. The lineage from David to Jesus continued but with many bad kings.
Why is this important? It shows that God keeps his promises even when humans do not. It shows that God can work through sinners. Thus, God can work through us. Jesus comes to save us from our sins.
One last note on the genealogy. The genealogy was through the male line. However, the genealogy of Jesus includes women. Women have a crucial place in God’s plan. Without women, there would be no men.
We celebrate Jesus’ birth at Christmas with great joy. For now, we wait to hear the angel proclaim the “good news of great joy” (Luke 2:10) that, “For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord” (Luke 2:11).
Peace,
Fr. Jeff