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 generation. Matthew 1:17
Where are you from? What’s your last name? Are you related to somebody I know? These are questions we ask or hear from people we meet along the road of life, questions that seek our identities and connections.
It may not hurt to tell people where we come from or who our relatives are. As a matter of fact, this has become a hobby for some people, especially here in the United States. There are people who engage in genealogy—they spend time tracing their ancestral roots to rebuild their past from oral tradition, written records, and artifacts, such as family photographs. In the end, this exercise becomes a path to discovery of myriad of things about their ancestors that have some bearing on their present status in life.
I’ve always been interested to do this exercise. I often wonder about the origin of my family name, Balagtas, or who my ancestors are.
In the Gospel reading of the second day of Simbang Gabi, Matthew presents to us the genealogy of Jesus. Matthew traces the origin of Jesus from Abraham to David, from David to the Babylonian Exile, and from the Babylonian Exile to Christ, each period consisting of fourteen generations. Matthew’s motive in presenting this genealogy is to prove to his listeners and readers that Jesus is the long-awaited Messiah because of his lineage to Abraham and David. Jesus comes from the root of Jesse; he is the son of Abraham and the son of David.
For the Jewish Christians, this discovery is important. The messiah must come from the lineage of David.
Matthew’s genealogy, therefore, is a journey to amazing discoveries.
First, it is a discovery of the truth of the person of Jesus Christ. He is the Son of God, who came to redeem the world by his life, death, and resurrection. He is not only the truth. He is also the way and the life.
It is important for us today to claim this truth of Jesus Christ, especially during these times when Christians in many parts of the world are persecuted. In the midst of continuing threat of violence and terrorism through the radical religious belief of killing innocent people, including children, in the name of God, we must keep on raising the banner of Christian faith that promotes love, mercy, and respect for life and dignity of every person.
This leads us to the second point. Matthew’s genealogy is a discovery of the opportune time for the reign of God to come. In Tagalog, this is the “tamang panahon” of the inbreaking of God’s Kingdom here on earth. Indeed, during this time of many world problems, it is fitting to say that it is more the “tamang panahon” to shine as Christians, to lead in the building of peace, justice, love and mercy in this world
Third, Mathew’s genealogy of Jesus is a discovery of self—that each of us, Christians, has become a member of the family of God by virtue of Christian baptism. Through water and the Spirit we have become brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ, called to build up a Kingdom of love, justice and peace in this world.
Again, it is important to remember our Christian identity, especially during these times when the Church—its leaders and members—is being challenged to greater authenticity of faith. The world is tired of seeing hypocritical and half-hearted Christians.
Finally, Matthew’s genealogy is a discovery of God’s mercy—that in spite of human imperfections, God decided to dwell among us. God entered into our human brokenness.
We see this well in genealogy of Jesus, which is not so clean and perfect. For example, Tamar was a liar and a deceiver. She dressed up as a harlot to make Judah bear her twin sons, Perez and Zerah. Rahab, the mother of Boaz by Salmon was another harlot in Jericho. King David was a wife-stealer. He had Uriah, the Hittite, killed to take Uriah’s wife, Bathsheba, for himself.
Matthew’s genealogy urges us to be compassionate to the human condition. Thus the theme of the Jubilee of Mercy: Misericordes sicut pater! Be merciful as your Father is! We cannot succumb to cynicism and disgust over our human frailties. We need to understand one another, to find ways to dialogue, and to receive another in love and mercy.
As we prepare for Christmas, let us come to these amazing discoveries of the truth of Jesus Christ; of the “tamang panahon” for God’s intervention to bring the much needed peace and justice into our broken world; of our deep relationship with one another as a universal family of God, as brothers and sisters in Christ; and of the God’s profound mercy to dwell among us despite our human frailties.
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From a Filipino immigrant family, Reverend Rodel G. Balagtas was ordained to the priesthood from St. John’s Seminary in 1991. He served as Associate Pastor at St. Augustine, Culver City (1991-1993); St. Martha, Valinda (1993-1999); and St. Joseph the Worker, Canoga Park (1999-2001). In 2001, he served as Administrator Pro Tem of St. John Neumann in Santa Maria, CA, until his appointment as pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary, Los Angeles, in 2002, which lasted 12 years. His term as Associate Director of Pastoral Field Education at St. John’s Seminary began in July 2014.
