Wednesday of the Third Week of Advent
This Week’s Intention: For a renewed spirit of care and vigilance for the sanctity of life and the dignity of all persons.
Today’s Gospel | Matthew 1:1-17
The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
Abraham became the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers. Judah became the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar. Perez became the father of Hezron, Hezron the father of Ram, Ram the father of Amminadab. Amminadab became the father of Nahshon, Nahshon the father of Salmon, Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab. Boaz became the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth. Obed became the father of Jesse, Jesse the father of David the king.
David became the father of Solomon, whose mother had been the wife of Uriah. Solomon became the father of Rehoboam, Rehoboam the father of Abijah, Abijah the father of Asaph. Asaph became the father of Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, Joram the father of Uzziah. Uzziah became the father of Jotham, Jotham the father of Ahaz, Ahaz the father of Hezekiah. Hezekiah became the father of Manasseh, Manasseh the father of Amos, Amos the father of Josiah. Josiah became the father of Jechoniah and his brothers at the time of the Babylonian exile.
After the Babylonian exile, Jechoniah became the father of Shealtiel, Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel, Zerubbabel the father of Abiud. Abiud became the father of Eliakim, Eliakim the father of Azor, Azor the father of Zadok. Zadok became the father of Achim, Achim the father of Eliud, Eliud the father of Eleazar. Eleazar became the father of Matthan, Matthan the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary. Of her was born Jesus who is called the Christ.
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.
A Reflection for the Third Wednesday of Advent
The poet Emily Dickinson wrote, “The soul should always stand ajar, ready to welcome the ecstatic experience.” For the people of Jesus’ world, the longing for his coming was so strong that it was woven into the fabric of their lives. Every day was a continuous ritual of the anticipation of God’s saving power arriving to overtake their pain and fill their emptiness. The word anticipation comes from the Latin anticipare, meaning “to give care to ahead of time.” It suggests a state not simply of wishing and waiting, but of preparing and expecting. This was the intentionality and the intensity of those who greeted the birth of our Savior. Today, we are challenged to enter into this same spirit, to daily give care to making of our hearts a place where God can dwell and redemption can take hold. To anticipate is an act of faith. The time of Advent is a time for anticipation.
Prayer for the Day
Eternal Father, we now look for the birth of your Son, to come into our world, to come into our hearts. And so we pray: send your Son, so that our souls may be at one with you. Send your Son, so that we may think, act, and speak with righteousness. Send your Son, so that we may be grateful for your many gifts. Send your Son, so that all of your people may find peace and justice. Send your Son, so that, in his light, all darkness may vanish. We ask this of you who lives and reigns with your Son and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.
St. John Baptist de La Salle, pray for us.
Live Jesus in our hearts forever.