Friday of the Third Week of Advent

Genesis 49:2, 8-10, Psalm 72:1-2, 3-4ab, 7-8, 17, & Matthew 1:1-17

Have you ever attempted to trace your family's ancestry? We place importance on tracing our origins to determine from where we came, who we are, and who our relations were.

Today's Gospel narrative traces back the "roots," or genealogy of Jesus, the Son of Abraham. The reading shows the many names of the family tree of Jesus. Just like us, the many members of Jesus' lineage are flawed. King David had an immoral affair with Bathsheba. Solomon was a womanizer and, occasionally, not faithful to the Lord God, and so forth.

Jesus' ancestors were not perfect, yet God chose our Lord to belong to that family tree. I suspect He did this to show us that we can return from our sinful nature and become faithful followers of Jesus and the Gospel.

Friends, God in His infinite wisdom believes in our capacity to change for the better. He knows that we yearn to leave behind our sinful life deep in our hearts. He believes that somehow, we shall be able to see the light one day. That is the light of Jesus.

God is offering us His Son, ready to redeem us from our sins no matter how grievous they may be. He does this through the sacrament of Reconciliation, the sacrament of forgiveness.

Question of the Day: Will you avail yourself to the sacrament of forgiveness?

Prayer: "Justice shall flourish in his time and fullness of peace for ever." (Psalm 72)