Gospel: Matthew 1:1-17
Abraham became the father of Isaac, Isaac the father
of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers. Judah became the father
of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar. Perez became the father of Hezron,
Hezron the father of Ram, Ram the father of Amminadab. Amminadab became the
father of Nahshon, Nahshon the father of Salmon, Salmon the father of Boaz,
whose mother was Rahab.
Boaz became the father of Obed, whose mother was
Ruth. Obed became the father of Jesse, Jesse the father of David the king.
David became the father of Solomon, whose mother had been the wife of Uriah.
Solomon became the father of Rehoboam, Rehoboam the father of Abijah,
Abijah the father of Asaph. Asaph became the father of Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat
the father of Joram, Joram the father of Uzziah. Uzziah became the father of
Jotham, Jotham the father of Ahaz, Ahaz the father of Hezekiah. Hezekiah became
the father of Manasseh, Manasseh the father of Amos, Amos the father of Josiah.
Josiah became the father of Jechoniah and his brothers at the time of the
Babylonian exile.
After the Babylonian exile, Jechoniah became the
father of Shealtiel, Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel, Zerubbabel the father
of Abiud. Abiud became the father of Eliakim, Eliakim the father of Azor, Azor
the father of Zadok. Zadok became the father of Achim, Achim the father of
Eliud, Eliud the father of Eleazar. Eleazar became the father of Matthan,
Matthan the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary.
Of her was born Jesus who is called the Christ.
Thus 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 Christ, fourteen generations.
In the Gospel reading, we are presented with the many
names that form the family tree of Jesus. As we reflect on this lineage, we
realize that many of Jesus’ ancestors were far from perfect—just like us. King
David, though chosen and beloved by God, fell into grave sin through his
immoral affair with Bathsheba. Solomon, gifted with great wisdom, was also a
notorious womanizer and eventually turned away from full fidelity to the Lord.
Still, God chose His Son to be born into this
imperfect family line. Through this, God reminds us that holiness does not
begin with perfection. Despite our weaknesses and failures, God desires that we
belong to Him. Our sins do not disqualify us from His love; rather, they become
the very place where His mercy can be revealed.
In His infinite wisdom, God believes in our capacity
to change for the better. He sees what lies deep within our hearts—the longing
to leave behind our sinful ways and to begin anew. God never gives up on us. He
patiently waits, trusting that one day, somehow, we will recognize the light
that guides us out of darkness. And that light is Jesus.
God offers us Jesus, ever ready to redeem us, no matter
how heavy or shameful our sins may be. His mercy knows no boundaries. He does
not discriminate against us, nor does He condemn us. Instead, He looks upon our
sincere desire to renew our lives, to turn away from sin, and to walk once more
in His ways.
As we reflect on this truth, we are invited to look
honestly at our own lives. If God, in His mercy, welcomes us into His family
despite our brokenness, what is holding us back from trusting Him fully? Are we
willing to allow His grace to transform us, to step out of our darkness, and to
choose today to belong more deeply to Him? – Marino J. Dasmarinas
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