Daily Reflection – Dec 17, 2015
Thursday 17 December 2015
First Reading: Genesis 49:2, 8-10
Psalm Response:
Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever
Psalm 71(72):1-4, 7-8, 17
Gospel Reading: Matthew 1:1-17
Today’s Note: Thursday of the Third Week of Advent
Gospel Reading:
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.
Reflection:
Today we come closer, and begin the seven O Antiphons which we will use for our closing prayers each day. Our entrance antiphon is: “You heavens, sing for joy, and earth, exult! Our Lord is coming and God will take pity on those in distress.” We call it a “new” cosmology, but the ancient peoples seemed to have even more reverence for the enormity and beauty of the heavens, stars, planet, clouds, elements. They were awed by mystery, and yet knew (without proof) that all creatures praise their creator.
If you can take a walk today, notice everything and invite it to sing and exult for joy because its creator is taking flesh to live among us. Wisdom is the co-creator with God, according to Proverbs, and Lady Wisdom in history becomes the Logos taking flesh, Jesus. If you cannot leave your room or bed, notice everything within your sight, hearing or touch and ask it (yes, even inanimate objects) to join you in praise.
O come, Wisdom of our God most high, guiding creation with power and love. Teach us to walk in the path of knowledge. Alleluia!
