The Genealogy of Jesus!

Tuesday, December 17, 2024

Gn 49: 2, 8-10; Mt 1:1-17

In today’s Gospel, we read the genealogy of Jesus Christ. 

What is the purpose of reading Jesus’ genealogy before Christmas?

If we carefully read the genealogy, we find it has having incorporated the whole of the Old Testament history into the Gospel as the proximate background of Jesus. In other words, if we want to know and understand Jesus, then we need to read the Old Testament. 

Secondly, the three-part genealogy comes with each part having 14 generations. This arrangement suggests that the order is schematic and not absolutely historical.

Thirdly, if we look at the arrangement of names, the whole list would be Davidic. The number symbolism here could involve the numerical value of the consonants in the Hebrew of David’s name DWD (d = 4 + w = 6 + d = 4 = 14). 

Fourthly, we find the mention of five women, namely Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba, and Mary. Why are these women mentioned? Two reasons are given: a) there was something extraordinary or irregular in their marital union; b) they showed initiative and played an important role in God’s plan. 

Matthew’s presentation is so compelling that we discover the meaning and purpose of reading the genealogy ahead of Christmas celebrations. 

God’s intervention in human history had a personal dimension in the person of Jesus Christ. 

We read Jesus’ history so that we, Christians, can trace our origins to the times of the Old Testament itself. 

Let us pray that our belonging to this proud lineage may shape our response to be truthful to Jesus. 

Fr. Dhinakaran Savariyar