Who are you? Where do you come from? Who are your parents? Where did they come from, and who are they related to by blood? These questions are frequently asked and explored by us. We want to know more than the superficial facts of a person’s life.
Today in the Byzantine Church we hear the gospel addressing Jesus’ family tree, a sequence of who makes up his lineage. Uniquely called, today is The Sunday Before Christmas: Matthew 1:1-25. While it may seem tedious and painful to hear since many can’t pronounce the names, but what the pericope demonstrates is that God uses the unlikely to bring into human history His work of salvation. God is not elitist; the Eternal Word of God has a “rough trade” family history.
The genealogy of Matthew’s gospel is a journey in human history –the good, the bad, the rough around the edges. It’s a journey by which we are meant to be informed, one person at a time, but not dismissed. The proclamation of Jesus’ genealogy in the wisdom of the Church shows us that the carriers of the Messianic promise are imperfect according to the world’s standards. If you idealize Jesus, a trap for certain, then you will need to think more deeply about what constitutes the line of communion with the Divine Majesty. We are reminded of this in the epistle reading from Hebrews which has a great line to ponder: God has a better plan for us. What prevails is that all people have a place in the plan of God, all of a role to play in the plan of salvation. The crooked line of our lives and witness matter –and this good news. Jesus demonstrates this fact.
St. Nicholas defended the Catholic faith and worked for peace and justice in his diocese, particularly worked for the good of the victims of human trafficking.
Today, the Pope canonized the Massabki Brothers, martyrs. They are called martyrs of faith and unity.
