"On this second day of our Novena, the Church presents us with a long list of names. It might seem boring, but it is thrilling. Our wor...
"On this second day of our Novena, the Church presents us with a long list of names. It might seem boring, but it is thrilling. Our words are History, Humanity, and Hope.
First, History. The Gospel traces the genealogy of Jesus from Abraham to David to the exile. It reminds us that Jesus did not drop from the sky; He entered human history. He has a family tree, just like you and me. This tells us that our God is a God of history—He works through time, through generations, and through the long, winding story of our lives. He is not absent in your personal history; He is woven into it.
Second, Humanity. If you look closely at this list, it’s not just full of saints. It includes sinners, outsiders, and people with complicated lives—Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, King David who committed adultery. Jesus was born into a messy family line. This is the beauty of His humanity. He is not ashamed to call us family. He embraces our broken humanity to heal it. You do not need a perfect family or a perfect past to be close to Jesus.
Third, Hope. The reading from Genesis promises that the 'scepter shall never depart from Judah.' Despite all the failures of the kings listed in the genealogy, God’s promise remained. This is our hope. No matter how messy our world gets, or how broken our families may be, God’s plan is unbreakable. The genealogy ends not with a period, but with a person: 'Jesus who is called the Christ.' He is the hope that redeems our history."
No comments