Thursday of the Third Week of Advent
Today’s passage from Matthew is the opening of his gospel. It is introduced with the words: “The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.” Matthew’s gospel was written for Jewish Christians to show the continuity of Jesus in the history and tradition of Israel. God’s covenant with Abraham (Genesis 12:1–3; 22:18) declared Israel to be His chosen people with a promise to bless them greatly. God also told Abraham the entire world would be blessed through his descendants. Likewise, God’s covenant with the King David, made through the prophecy of the Nathan, was that David’s line would rule over Israel forever: “Your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever” (2 Samuel 7:16). Matthew shows that Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment of the covenants promised to Abraham and David.
What is more interesting about this passage is that Jesus’ family tree is a mix of holy and unholy figures, sinners and outcasts. The gospel makes no effort to sanitize his origins, or the members of his family. We know the people of God have been made up of all sorts of characters, who despite their weaknesses—and in some cases precisely because of them—become instruments for God. Matthew’s genealogy highlights a number of these people rather than burying them or leaving them out. We know the great King David was an adulterer and a murderer. But there are so many other interesting figures in this line. Take for example, Rahab, the Canaanite prostitute whose creative hospitality saved Joshua’s spies.
One might ask why this list of names is mentioned at the beginning of Matthew’s gospel. What might God be saying to us as we read this text during Advent? We’re preparing to celebrate to birth of Christ, yes, but even more, Advent is a time of preparation for Jesus second coming, when God’s saving work will be brought to completion. During a time of great division in our country and deep hostilities among people, even in our own church, who do we expect God to save? Perhaps today’s gospel invites us to think again about that question. When we know a little bit about a person, we tend to jump to conclusions about their worth or their role (perhaps lack thereof) in God’s saving work in the world. Today’s gospel reading gives us pause. As St. Augustine famously said, the church is a “mixed body” of saints and sinners. Where is God working through my brokenness? How can I expand my sense of community?
-Jessica Gabrielli