Third Thursday of Advent

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.

Why is Matthew so interested in the lineage of Christ? It is to show that Jesus is the culmination of God’s covenant with Abraham and the fulfillment of the royal line of David. Jesus is the New Covenant and the New King and with him comes all the graces and authority of both. His covenant will be a binding one upon all people through every generation. His message of loving God with our whole hearts, souls, minds, and strengths and our neighbors as He loves us is at the core of His Good News. We are all called to live our lives in accord with these new commandments and if we do not, then we shall not have a share in the Heavenly Kingdom. However, if we do listen and put into action God’s Will for us, then we shall grow in faith, hope, and charity and one day we shall be able to stand before God and he will say, “Well done, my good and faithful servants.”

Do we live our lives in accord with the gospel message of the New Covenant? Do we accept Jesus’ claim to be the rightful king of our hearts? Do we strive to be good and faithful servants every day of our lives?

O Lord, may we be counted among your faithful children when the time of judgment comes.

Amen.