The Lineage of Wholeness

~~~ Genesis 49:2, 8-10 ~~~ Psalm 72 ~~~ Matthew 1:1-17 ~~~

 

Today in the gospel from Matthew we are given seventeen verses

listing the genealogy of Jesus.

The older I get the more my ancestral history has come to be valued.

When you are young you don't think too much farther back

 than your grandparents.

It is difficult for children to grasp the concept

that their parents were once little children just like them.

 

In an effort to teach the value of ancestors teachers often

give the family tree assignment.

I remember one of my younger sisters getting in trouble

with her teacher for not placing

any aunts and uncles on her family tree illustration.

When in reality my sister was correct.

Our parents are both only children

so we do not have any aunts and uncles.

An entire section of our family tree has no branches.

Really strange when you think about it...

are the branches bare or do they just not exist at all?

 

Establishing the lineage of Jesus fulfills the prophecies,

but it gives us a human connection to him.

We can identify with and understand the importance

of family connections.

Listing, as in a litany, the lineage of Jesus

gives it a formality worthy

of who he is...the Son of God.

 

Life has a rhythm and reciting the ancestors of Jesus

also sustains a rhythm

all of its own.

 

This passage proclaims Jesus as one of us even before the

angel Gabriel appeared to Mary.

The lineage of Jesus was evolving with the passage of time.

 

I do not believe in numerology, but I think you would agree

that some numbers have

specific meaning in the Bible.

That is another whole blog post for the future.

 

I began to explore the number fourteen in the Bible.

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.

 

We know that the number seven implies perfection or completeness.

To the Jews the number seven or its multiples was significant.

The seventh day was the Sabbath.

The seventh month was holy and had three feast days.

At Passover fourteen lambs were offered.

 

Thus the lineage of Jesus is connected

for us to perfection and completeness.

When Jesus was born the Old Testament prophecies were finally complete.

From Abraham to the Nativity many generations passed,

 before the coming of the Christ child.

 

 

If one looks closely at this lineage of Jesus you see that there are several

individuals that you would not care to have in your family tree.

 

But here they are in the family tree of Jesus.

Jesus comes into our midst no matter what.

We cannot make the excuse of not being worthy.

We cannot be boastful about being worthy either.

 

Jesus enters into the good times of our life,

as well as the bad times.

 

So I guess one could say that there is some darkness

even in the lineage of the Christ.

What matters the most is that when was born all darkness was dispelled.

His light broke into the darkness making it possible for us

to inherit the grace to live a holy life.

 

This Christmas as your family comes together remember that you

have the light of Christ;

it is up to you to let it shine out to your family.

 

As part of the Body of Christ we are continuing the lineage of

the baby in the manger lying in the hay.

Eleven Years Later: Let Peace Arise

~~~ 1Cor 6:1-11 ~~~ Psalm 149 ~~~ Luke 6:12-19 ~~~

 

I can still feel the remnants of the shock and fear that morning eleven years ago.

 I was sitting with my small group of struggling math students.

My thoughts quickly went to my son and daughter in law;

for they were living in Brooklyn and working in the the city.

Just a few months before she had turned down a job

in one of the twin towers.

 

That tragic day eleven years ago still has the power to fill our eyes with tears.

How could another human being even conceive of such a horrible act;

much less carry it out?

Were the people responsible even human?

 

We sat for hours and days as the media replayed

the footage of those two towering man made structures

crumble to the ground like toys.

 

In the following days every reaction known to mankind

was thrust into action.

That day thousands of innocent lives were lost.

That day thousands of lives were spared by seemingly small delays.

That day being late for work may have

made the difference between life and death.

 

In spite of the evil that had struck our country

God brought out the genuine core of goodness within so many people.

That day God created the perfect environment

for people to think not of themselves first

but of their fellowmen.

That day the first responders acted fearlessly as they climbed the stairs 

to meet their calling; to save the lives of those they had vowed to take care of.

 

Today eleven years after this tragedy, we remember all those who were lost.

Today eleven years later we remember those who lost loved ones that day.

Today we remember those who continue to suffer as a result of this evil act.

 

Eleven years later where are we as a country?

Eleven years later where are we as individuals?

 

How have we been able to move on into a place of peace?

Eleven years later are we any closer to being able to forgive?

Eleven years later are we more fearful?

Eleven years later do we harbor more hatred

and bias within our own hearts?

 

Today as we remember let us continue to trust

that God did, does, and will be our protector.

Today as we remember let us believe that this world

can only experience peace

to the extent that each individual

experiences the same peace.

 

True peace can only come from God above.

The prayer of St. Francis is more important than ever.

I invite you to let your heart be an instrument of peace in our world.

Seek peace for yourself so that through this peace

you may spread peace on to others.

 

 

God alone will deliver justice.

We are ever reminded that his ways are not our ways.

His mercy endures forever.

He alone is the judge.

He came to be among us so that we could come

to a deeper understanding of love....his love.

 

I pray that we continue to strive toward a greater world peace.

I am forever grateful for the out pouring of goodness 

we were witness to

eleven years ago today.

 

"...now you have had yourselves washed, you were sanctified,
you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ
and in the Spirit of our God."

(1 Corinthians 6:11)

 

May the Christ residing in your heart dispel all darkness, fears, and hatred.

Let Christ raise you up with himself, bringing you unto himself.