Genealogy

Here is another reflection from 2021.

Genealogy December 17, 2021

Growing up, I use to love hearing the story about my Great Uncle Primitivo Uro who was an Ammunitions' General in Pancho Villa's army during the Revolutionary War and who later became the Governor of the State of Chihuahua in Mexico.

All of us have stories about our ancestors, and like us, in Jesus's genealogy, which we read in today's Gospel reading (Matthew 1:1-17) there are interesting stories. But all too often we tend to glaze over this long list of names, however, there is a story behind each name, and each story has something to teach us.

The most obvious is probably that of King David himself. We read that David became the father of Solomon, whose mother had been the wife of Uriah. Of course Uriah is the one David had killed so as to hide his sin of adultery with his wife. Yet even though David had committed adultery and murder, God forgave him and of his descendants would come the Messiah. Can I be like David and seek out God's heart and forgiveness no matter how great a sinner I think I am so that he may continue to do his work in me and in my life?

What about Ruth, the mother of Obed and the great grandmother of David. She was a Moabite who chose to leave her people, her culture, and her religion behind to follow her mother in law and said to her I will make your people my people, and your God my God. Can I be like Ruth and turn away from this world's culture with its ungodly ways of living and believing, and seek instead to live in God's Kingdom here on earth?

And what of Ruth's mother-in-law, Naomi, who is not mentioned in this Gospel but definitely a part of the story. What did Ruth see in her and the way she and her husband and two sons lived their lives that caused Ruth to want to remain with her and convert to Judaism? How can I live in such a way that draws others to want to have a conversion of heart in their lives?

As we get ready to enter into the final week of Advent, why not take some time to look at some of these individuals in Jesus' and our genealogy and see how their stories might inspire us to be more, to be better, to fully live as we should as Children of God. To seek out God's heart, to repent, to turn away from this world's culture of sin and death, and to draw others to conversion.