The voice of one crying in the wilderness

 

 The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham:  Abraham begot Isaac, Isaac begot Jacob, and Jacob begot Judah and his brothers.  Judah begot Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez begot Hezron, and Hezron begot Ram.  Ram begot Amminadab, Amminadab begot Nahshon, and Nahshon begot Salmon.  Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab, Boaz begot Obed by Ruth, Obed begot Jesse, and Jesse begot David the king.  

 

David the king begot Solomon by her who had been the wife of Uriah.  Solomon begot Rehoboam, Reoboam begot Abijah, and Abijah begot Asa.  Asa begot Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat begot Joram, and Joram begot Uzziah.  Uzziah begot Jotham, Jotham begot Ahaz, and Ahaz begot Hezekiah.  Hezekiah begot Manasseh, Manasseh begot Amon, and Amon begot Josiah.  Josiah begot Jeconiah and his brothers about the time they were carried away to Babylon.  

 

And after they were brought to Babylon, Jeconiah begot Shealtiel, and Shealtiel begot Zerubbabel. Zerubbabel begot Abiud, Abiud begot Eliakim, and Eliakim begot Azor.  Azor begot Zadok, Zadok begot Achim, and Achim begot Eliud.  Eliud begot Eleazar, Eleazar begot Matthan, and Matthan begot Jacob.  And Jacob begot Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus who is called Christ.  

 

So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations, from David until the captivity in Babylon are fourteen generations, and from the captivity in Babylon until the Christ are fourteen generations.  

 

 * * * 

 

 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!"  For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying:

"The voice of one crying in the wilderness:

'Prepare the way of the LORD;

Make His paths straight.'"

Now John himself was clothed in camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey.   Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.  

 

- Matthew 1:1–17; 3:1–6 

 

 In our readings from last week, the lectionary gave us the Final Discourse of Jesus, which He gave to the disciples at the Last Supper.  On Saturday, we read His final words in this discourse, just prior to His prayer before going to His arrest and the Cross.  He told the disciples, "A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me, because I go to the Father."  Then some of His disciples said among themselves, "What is this that He says to us, 'A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me'; and 'because I go to the Father'?"  They said therefore, "What is this that He says, 'A little while'?  We do not know what He is saying."  Now Jesus knew that they desired to ask Him, and He said to them, "Are you inquiring among yourselves about what I said, 'A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me'?  Most assuredly, I say to you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy.  A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world.  Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you.  And in that day you will ask Me nothing.  Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you.  Until now you have asked nothing in My name.  Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.  These things I have spoken to you in figurative language; but the time is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figurative language, but I will tell you plainly about the Father.  In that day you will ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I shall pray the Father for you; for the Father Himself loves you, because you have  loved Me, and have believed that I came forth from God.  I came forth from the Father and have come into the world.  Again, I leave the world and go to the Father."  His disciples said to Him, "See, now You are speaking plainly, and using no figure of speech!  Now we are sure that You know all things, and have no need that anyone should question You.  By this we believe that You came forth from God."  Jesus answered them, "Do you now believe?  Indeed the hour is coming, yes, has now come, that you will be scattered, each to his own, and will leave Me alone.  And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me.  These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace.  In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."

 

 The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham:  Abraham begot Isaac, Isaac begot Jacob, and Jacob begot Judah and his brothers.  My study Bible comments that while St. Luke's genealogy runs from Jesus back to Adam (Luke 3:23-38), St. Matthew's list descends from Abraham, with whom was established the Old Covenant of circumcision, to Jesus, who is the author of the New Covenant.  God promised to bless all the tribes of the earth in Abraham (Genesis 12:3; 28:14).  This promise is fulfilled in Abraham's greatest Son, Jesus Christ.

 

 Judah begot Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez begot Hezron, and Hezron begot Ram.  Ram begot Amminadab, Amminadab begot Nahshon, and Nahshon begot Salmon.  Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab, Boaz begot Obed by Ruth, Obed begot Jesse, and Jesse begot David the king.  Traditionally, Jewish genealogical lists included only men.  Here, the mention of women -- Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and Bathsheba -- is unusual.  Each one, according to my study Bible, is either a Gentile or a sinner.  The inclusion of these women, it notes, declares God's graciousness and prefigures the calling of the Gentiles into the Church.  Additionally, it underscores the role of women in God's plan of salvation, and at the same time anticipates the place of the Virgin Mary in that place. 

 

 David the king begot Solomon by her who had been the wife of Uriah.  Solomon begot Rehoboam, Reoboam begot Abijah, and Abijah begot Asa.  Asa begot Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat begot Joram, and Joram begot Uzziah.  Uzziah begot Jotham, Jotham begot Ahaz, and Ahaz begot Hezekiah.  Hezekiah begot Manasseh, Manasseh begot Amon, and Amon begot Josiah.  Josiah begot Jeconiah and his brothers about the time they were carried away to Babylon.   Through his anointing by Samuel, David was made king  (1 Samuel 16:1-13).  Through his psalms, David was revealed as a great prophet.  So, according to my study Bible, David foreshadows both the royal and the prophetic nature of Jesus Christ (Psalm 110). As an adulterer and a murderer, David is also a type for all repentant sinners. 

 

 And after they were brought to Babylon, Jeconiah begot Shealtiel, and Shealtiel begot Zerubbabel. Zerubbabel begot Abiud, Abiud begot Eliakim, and Eliakim begot Azor.  Azor begot Zadok, Zadok begot Achim, and Achim begot Eliud.  Eliud begot Eleazar, Eleazar begot Matthan, and Matthan begot Jacob.  And Jacob begot Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus who is called Christ.  My study Bible says that Joseph can be named as Jesus' immediate predecessor since Old Testament marriage laws confer hereditary rights on adopted as well as biological sons.  According to the Church Fathers, Mary also was descended from David; and in the phrase Mary, of whom was born Jesus, "of whom" is in a feminine singular case, therefore referring only to Mary.  So, therefore, Jesus is shown to be born of Mary, and not begotten of Joseph.  

 

 So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations, from David until the captivity in Babylon are fourteen generations, and from the captivity in Babylon until the Christ are fourteen generations.  Christ's ancestors in St. Matthew's genealogy are arranged in three groups of fourteen generations.  Fourteen is the numerical equivalent of the consonants in the name David, and thereby, my study Bible says, it underlines Jesus' descent from David.  This arrangement also shows the division of the leadership of the Jews, who were under judges until David, under kings until Babylon, and under priests until Christ.  

 

In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!"  For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying: "The voice of one crying in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the LORD; make His paths straight.'"  The wilderness of Judea is the barren region which descends from Jerusalem to the Dead Sea (map).  The preparation for Christ's ministry began with John the Baptist's call to repent.  My study Bible comments that repentance, which accompanies faith, is a total about-face.  The word in Greek (μετανοια/metanoia) literally means to change one's mind, or more generally, to turn around.  It explains that repentance is a radical change of one's spirit, mind, thought, and heart, a complete reorientation of the whole of one's life.  This is the necessary first step in the way of the LORD.  It is accompanied by the confession of sins and the act of baptism (verse 6), and is followed by a life filled with fruits worthy of this change (verse 8).  

 

 Now John himself was clothed in camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey. My study explains that John's ascetic life conformed to that of the Jewish sects such as the Essenes, who lived in the wilderness.  Their purpose was to prepare for the coming Kingdom of God.  John's clothing is typical of a prophet, and echoes descriptions of Elijah (2 Kings 1:8).  In the early Church, the monastic movement was patterned after St. John the Baptist's manner of life. 

 

 Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.  My study Bible remarks that the confession of sins is essential to baptism under both the Old Covenant and the New.  John's baptism, however, is a sign of repentance and the forgiveness of sins only.  It did not confer the power of total regeneration nor adoption as a child of God in the way that Christian baptism does (verse 11).  

 

As we have just passed through Lent and into Easter (or Pascha), it might be time to consider paradox and the role that it plays in our faith.  Holy Week gives us vividly the most striking paradox of all; that is, death and life, rebirth -- the Cross of the Crucifixion and the empty tomb and joyous good news of Resurrection from an angel to Christ's followers.  In today's reading, we begin not simply with Christ's birth, but with His entire genealogy from Abraham, the one whose faith in God was credited to him as righteousness (Genesis 15:6).   This beginning gives us a complete focus for the Gospel of Matthew as we enter into readings in this Gospel through the lectionary, a focus on faith and its role in adoption as children of God.  This is a genealogy that links faith to Christ, and gives us a host of ancestors who, by faith, lead us to the Son of God.  My study Bible points out the unusual four women who are included in this genealogy, each one either a Gentile or a sinner.  But each plays the role in the salvation history we must come to understand as faithful.  And without faith, that understanding becomes impossible.  For God's work in the world isn't to our human standards, but rather comes through revelation and our receipt of that reality.  We learn about and come into relationship with God through God's grace and revelation to us.  Without this, how could we understand the paradoxes of life in Christ, of the Cross and of the Resurrection?  That is, that which St. Paul termed "to the Jews a stumbling block, and to the Greeks foolishness" (1 Corinthians 1:23).  From this long history of beginning and renewal in the genealogy we receive the beginning of Christ's ministry, given to us in the person and ministry of St. John the Baptist.  He comes into the story of salvation at a particular moment in which expectations are high that the Messiah would be coming; this also involves a great deal of false expectation which will play a role in the story of Jesus.  He foreshadows the baptism that is to come, preparing people through repentance, and repeating the words of the prophet Isaiah who came before him.  In this the Gospel gives us yet another parallel lineage that plays its own great role in the story of salvation, that of the prophets.  St. John the Baptist is considered in the Church to be the last and greatest of the Old Testament type prophets, and in yet another paradox, he plays his role in ushering in and preparing for the New Covenant to come.  Just as the voice in the prophecy of Isaiah, his mission and ministry are in the wilderness, and all are coming to him.  He lives in a radical poverty, echoing that of another prophet, Elijah -- the one who was prophesied to return before the Messiah (Malachi 4:5-6).  Jesus Himself will point out that we are also to see John's role as that of Elijah's return in spirit (Matthew 17:12-13).  So today, let us consider the paradox of the old and the new, the extension and renewal of covenant and of the ongoing saving mission of God in the world.  Baptism itself is a model of renewal, death and rebirth, turning from one way and facing another -- making a path straight for the Lord, in the words of Isaiah (Isaiah 40:3).  John's mission is in the wilderness of desert, just as Isaiah's words reflect.  There is the old, and there is renewal, and John's baptism will also be renewed in the Baptism that is to come in the Holy Spirit.  Let us embrace paradox and renewal, the old fulfilled in the new -- and God's always surprising revelation where our understanding isn't adequate without also faith in order to receive it.  In the Revelation, the Lord says, "Behold, I make all things new" (Revelation 21:5); from the Greek, this is better translated, "I am always making all things new."  The paradox of faith is always unfolding for us if we can but accept it, for in this is the lifetime drama of repentance, a continual renewal.  If we can but receive it, Christ's death and renewal is always working within us and in our lives.   We begin with the voice of one crying in the wilderness, which leads to eternal Resurrection, if we can accept with faith.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Prepare the way of the LORD; Make His paths straight

 

In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!"  For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying: 

"The voice of one crying in the wilderness:

'Prepare the way of the LORD;

Make His paths straight.'"

Now John himself was clothed in camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey.  Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins. 

 

- Matthew (1:1-17) 3:1–6 

 

 In today's lectionary reading we are given Matthew 1:1-17 as a parenthetical beginning.  Matthew begins his Gospel by giving us the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the history and lineage of His birth.  Let us consider some significant factors and meanings to the genealogy given here in Matthew.  Jesus means "O Lord, save," which refers to His role as Savior.  Christ means "Anointed One," giving us the Messiah, the One who is filled with the Holy Spirit (see John 1:33).  My study Bible reminds us that although the Son alone became a human being, God the Father and the Holy Spirit work in Jesus Christ to save us.  Matthew's genealogy begins by referring to Jesus as the son of David, the son of Abraham -- David being the greatest king of Israel and prototype of the royal Messiah, and Abraham the father not just of all Jews, but of the "people of God," whose faithfulness was accounted as righteousness (Genesis 15:6).  My study Bible comments that Matthew's genealogy reveals that the Son of God so identifies with the human condition that He takes it all on Himself and become part of it.  It notes for us that Christ's ancestry includes both righteous and wicked people, faithful kings and murderers, Jews and Gentiles, kings and peasants.  

In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!"  For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying: "The voice of one crying in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the LORD; make His paths straight.'"  My study Bible comments that the wilderness of Judea is the barren region descending from Jerusalem to the Dead Sea.  The preparation for the Savior's ministry begins with John the Baptist's call to repent.  Repentance, which accompanies faith, is a total about-face.  The word in Greek means literally "change of mind," or more generally, to turn around.  My study Bible characterizes repentance as a radical change of one's spirit, mind, thought, and heart, a complete reorientation of the whole of one's life.  It is the needed first step in the way of the LORD.  Moreover, my study Bible adds, it is accompanied by the confession of sins and the act of baptism (see the final verse in today's reading), and followed by a life filled with fruits which are worthy of this change (see verse 8, part of tomorrow's reading).  The Gospel quotes from Isaiah 40:3, which appears in this "beginning" of the story of Christ's ministry in all four Gospels (see also Mark 1:3; Luke 3:4; John 1:23).  

Now John himself was clothed in camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey.  My study Bible explains that John's ascetic life conformed to that of the Jewish sects such as the Essenes, who lived in the wilderness and whose purpose was to prepare for the coming Kingdom of God.  John's clothing was typical of a prophet, and most clearly resembled that of Elijah (2 Kings 1:8).  The monastic movement in the early Church, my study Bible adds, was patterned after John manner of life. 

 

Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.   My study Bible says that the confession of sins is essential to baptism under both the Old Covenant and the New.  But John's baptism was a sign only of repentance and the forgiveness of sins.  It did not confer the power of total regeneration nor adoption as a child of God as does Christian baptism (see verse 11).  

As noted above, Matthew's genealogy of Jesus Christ begins by noting Christ as a son of David.  This is another title for the Messiah ("Son of David").  In fact, in several places in Matthew's Gospel, people use this title in addressing Jesus; see Matthew 9:27, 15:22, 20:30.  But perhaps for today it's important to place a focus on the true beginning of the genealogy, which starts with Abraham, the father of all Jews, the first patriarch.  As we commented already, Genesis 15:6 tells us of Abraham, "And he believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him for righteousness."  This is highly important, because as patriarch of all Jews (and even of faithful people to come out of the Gentiles), Abraham is not accounted as righteous by God because he followed and kept the Law or Torah perfectly.  This is long before the Torah existed, and before Moses was born.  Abraham is the father of all the faithful because of his own faithfulness.  He responded to God's call to him by being faithful in what God asked him to do.  It is as profoundly simple as that.  David also is the epitome of a faithful king.  If we look at both of these men, however, we do not see perfect men.  We see people who have failed on occasion, and who have sinned.  All of this is important because these ancestors of Christ have nonetheless lived their faith, they have exercised what many would call "faithfulness" by living that faith, and thus righteousness is reckoned to them -- as it can and must also be reckoned to us.  In John's chapter 6, after being fed by Jesus in the wilderness, the people seek to make Him their king, and they pursue Him.  But He turns to them and tells them that they're simply after Him because He gave them food.  He teaches them, "Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him."  They then ask Him, "What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?"  Jesus answers, "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent."  In Greek, that word for "believe" does not simply convey an intellectual idea we agree with.  It is, at its root, a word meaning trust.  This trust is what faithfulness is all about -- a loyalty to God, a deeply willingness to please and obey the things of God.  This is what true faith and faithfulness and trust is all about.  Jesus asks the people to put their trust in Him, and to live that trust.  As my study Bible's comments allude in speaking of the baptism of John the Baptist, John comes into this beginning of Christ's ministry in the world to prepare the people for the Messiah, and John teaches them repentance, giving them a baptism of repentance.  This is to turn and to face the Lord and receive Him.  But Jesus will give us Holy Baptism, so that we may receive the Holy Spirit, the Helper or Counselor, the great gift to us of help for our own faithfulness, so that we might be righteous in the same way as the patriarch Abraham, and by adoption become "sons of God."  Faithfulness remains the thread that carries us through all the Bible, and to Christ, making us a part of His family tree by adoption.  St. Paul uses the analogy of an olive tree in Romans 11, to speak to those believing Gentiles who've been "grafted on" to a cultivated tree from a wild one -- meaning they who once did not live in obedience and faithfulness to God now may pursue and live such faithfulness.  Let us consider the faithfulness that runs all through this tree, how we become "children of God," and a part of the people of God.  Let us remember that it is lived faithfulness and trust in Christ that constitutes righteousness in the sight of God, as we go through Matthew's Gospel.  St. John the Baptist does his part in this great economy of salvation; he is faithful to the part God gives him to play.  May we all choose to do likewise.

Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!

 The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham:  Abraham begot Isaac, Isaac begot Jacob, and Jacob begot Judah and his brothers.  Judah begot Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez begot Hezron, and Hezron begot Ram.  Ram begot Amminadab, Amminadab begot Nahshon, and Nahshon begot Salmon.  Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab, Boaz begot Obed by Ruth, Obed begot Jesse, and Jesse begot David the king.  David the king begot Solomon by her who had been the wife of Uriah.  Solomon begot Rehoboam, Rehoboam begot Abijah, and Abijah begot Asa.  Asa begot Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat begot Joram, and Joram begot Uzziah.  Uzziah begot Jotham, Jotham begot Ahaz, and Ahaz begot Hezekiah.  Hezekiah begot Manassah, Manasseh begot Amon, and Amon begot Josiah.  Josiah begot Jeconiah and his brothers about the time they were carried away to Babylon.

And after they were brought to Babylon, Jeconiah begot Shealtiel, and Shealtiel begot Zerubbabel, Zerubbabel begot Abiud, Abiud begot Eliakim, and Eliakim begot Azor.  Azor begot Zadok, Zadok begot Achim, and Achim begot Eliud.  Eliud begot Eleazar, Eleazar begot Matthan, and Matthan begot Jacob.  And Jacob begot Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus who is called Christ.  So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations, from David until the captivity in Babylon are fourteen generations, and from the captivity in Babylon until the Christ are fourteen generations.

* * *

In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!"  For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying:

"The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
'Prepare the way of the Lord;
Make His paths straight.'"

Now John himself was clothed with camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey.  Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.

- Matthew (1:1-17), 3:1-6

 The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham:  Abraham begot Isaac, Isaac begot Jacob, and Jacob begot Judah and his brothers.  Judah begot Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez begot Hezron, and Hezron begot Ram.  Ram begot Amminadab, Amminadab begot Nahshon, and Nahshon begot Salmon.  Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab, Boaz begot Obed by Ruth, Obed begot Jesse, and Jesse begot David the king.  David the king begot Solomon by her who had been the wife of Uriah.  Solomon begot Rehoboam, Rehoboam begot Abijah, and Abijah begot Asa.  Asa begot Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat begot Joram, and Joram begot Uzziah.  Uzziah begot Jotham, Jotham begot Ahaz, and Ahaz begot Hezekiah.  Hezekiah begot Manassah, Manasseh begot Amon, and Amon begot Josiah.  Josiah begot Jeconiah and his brothers about the time they were carried away to Babylon.  What can a genealogy tell us?  Jesus means "O Lord, save," which immediately establishes His role as Savior.  Christ means "Anointed One," or Messiah, the One who is filled with the Holy Spirit.  Though the Son alone became man, my study bible reminds us, God the Father and the Holy Spirit work in Jesus Christ to save us.  Jesus became Man as a Jew, from the lineage of Abraham, the father of all Jews, and of David, Israel's greatest king and the prototype of the royal Messiah.  Matthew's genealogy reveals that the Son of God becomes so fully human that He takes all the human condition upon Himself and becomes part of it.  His ancestry here includes both righteous and wicked people, faithful kings and murderers, Jews and Gentiles, kings and peasants, my study bible tells us.  In Luke's Gospel, the genealogy runs from Jesus back to Adam (Luke 3:23-38), but Matthew's list begins with Abraham, through whom God established the Old Covenant of circumcision, and to Jesus the author of the New Covenant.  In Genesis, God promises to bless all tribes of the world in Abraham (Genesis 12:3, 28:14); this is fulfilled in Abraham's greatest Son, Jesus Christ.  David, through anointing by Samuel, was made king, my study bible notes.  Through his psalms, David was revealed as a great prophet.  Thus, David foreshadows both the royal and prophetic nature of Jesus Christ (Psalm 109).  As adulterer and murderer, my study bible reminds us, David also functions as a type for all repentant sinners. 

 And after they were brought to Babylon, Jeconiah begot Shealtiel, and Shealtiel begot Zerubbabel, Zerubbabel begot Abiud, Abiud begot Eliakim, and Eliakim begot Azor.  Azor begot Zadok, Zadok begot Achim, and Achim begot Eliud.  Eliud begot Eleazar, Eleazar begot Matthan, and Matthan begot Jacob.  And Jacob begot Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus who is called Christ.  So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations, from David until the captivity in Babylon are fourteen generations, and from the captivity in Babylon until the Christ are fourteen generations.  Normally, Jewish genealogical lists would include only men.   But Matthew gives us several women -- Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and Bathsheba, and this is quite unusual.  Each is either a Gentile or a sinner.  The inclusion of these women teaches us something important and powerful:  it both declares God's graciousness and prefigures the calling of Gentiles into the Church.  Additionally, it underscores the role of women in God's plan of salvation and anticipates the special place of Mary, mother of Jesus, in that plan.  Joseph can be called Jesus' immediate predecessor as Old Testament marriage laws confer hereditary rights on adopted as well as biological sons.  The church fathers teach that Mary was also descended from David.  The text refers to Mary when it says of whom was born Jesus; "of whom" is feminine in the Greek.  Jesus, therefore, is understood to be born of Mary, and not begotten of Joseph.

In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!"  For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying:  "The voice of one crying in the wilderness:  'Prepare the way of the Lord; Make His paths straight.'"  The wilderness of Judea is a barren region which descends from Jerusalem to the Dead Sea.  In the first part of our reading, we were given the genealogy of Jesus, leading to His birth.  Here we begin with the preparation for His ministry in the world, beginning with John's call to repent.  Repentance, which accompanies faith, my study bible says, is a total about-face.  In Greek it literally means to change one's mind (metanoia), or more generally, to turn around.  In reality, salvation is an ongoing repentance, a deepening process which creates radical change of one's spirit, mind, thought, and heart.  That is, a complete reorientation of the whole of one's life.  Repentance is the start here, the first step in the way of the LORD.  It is accompanied by the confession of sins and the act of baptism, my study bible notes, and is followed by a life filled with fruits worthy of this change (see 3:8).  John echoes and fulfills the words of the prophets before him.  The text quotes from the prophecy of Isaiah (Isaiah 40:3) to indicate John's role as herald in the work of salvation.

Now John himself was clothed with camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey.  Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.   John is given to us in the image of a prophet.  His clothing was typical of such, distinctively echoing Elijah (2 Kings 1:8).  His ascetic life conformed to those Jewish sects such as the Essenes, who lived in the wilderness and whose purpose was solely to prepare for the coming Kingdom of God.  The monastic movement in the early Church would be patterned after John's manner of life.  My study bible also notes here that the confession of sins is essential to baptism under both the Old and New Covenant.  John's baptism was a sign of repentance and the forgiveness of sins only.  It did not confer the power of total regeneration nor adoption as a child of God as does Christian baptism.

Today's reading is concerned with beginnings.  We're given the beginning of Christ's life, His mission and Incarnation, through a genealogy that starts with Abraham, he whose faith resulted in the covenant with God and began a radical journey of faith through history.   The other beginning we're given is the beginning of Jesus' public mission in the world, starting with the John the Baptist, who heralds the advent of the Christ and the fulfillment of the prophecy of the Kingdom, another world-changing beginning.  Both beginnings give us the sense of history as given in the Church:  that the Incarnation of Christ is the central event of all history, through and around which all else is arranged.  Although we're given "beginnings" here in a worldly sense, in the sense of the true nature of Christ and of creation, the eternal mission of salvation always was:   regardless of our state as human beings, God's love would always call us toward God and toward love and communion -- a depth of communion that asks us to become "like God."   From Abraham to John the Baptist, the central mission remains consistent through all the preparation and through the saints of whom we know:  the love of God reaching toward us and finding us wherever we may be, no matter how we may seem separated.  This central cosmic mission ripples all throughout history before and since and extends -- especially in our recent experience of Easter and the truths of Christ death and Resurrection -- to all those who have come before and will come in the future.  Time is relevant to this cosmic perspective, as each moment in our own lives serves also as beginning.  Now we listen to John the Baptist and consider our orientation to life and how our faith informs us where we are.  Now is the moment we remember Christ and pray to set us properly in our day today.  Now is the time we remember God is always with us and ask the Holy Spirit to guide our way, to show us what we need.  Now is the moment we pray to make wise decisions, for a guide and Helper to be with us.  Now is the moment we're grateful for the love of Christ.  The eternal present is always a beginning, regardless of our histories and what we think we know, for right now with God all things are always possible -- even the astonishing story of Christ in our midst and the ministry that is always with us.   For the kingdom of heaven remains, ever-present, at hand, calling us to wake up to what truly is.  Repentance becomes the act of reorienting ourselves to that reality and living it as fully as possible in the now that is always a beginning, God's love present even in the most intimate moments of our lives.

And he called His name JESUS

 The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham:  Abraham begot Isaac, Isaac begot Jacob, and Jacob begot Judah and his bothers.  Judah begot Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez begot Hezron, and Hezron begot Ram.  Ram begot Amminadab, Amminadab begot Nahshon, and Nahshon begot Salmon.  Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab, Boaz begot Obed by Ruth, Obed begot Jesse, and Jesse begot David the king.

David the king begot Solomon by her who had been the wife of Uriah.  Solomon begot Rehoboam, Rebhoboam begot Abijah, and Abijah begot Asa.  Asa begot Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat begot Joam, and Joram begot Uzziah.  Uzziah begot Jotham, Jotham begot Ahaz, and Ahaz begot Hezekiah.  Hezekiah begot Manasseh, Manasseh begot Amon, and Amon begot Josiah.  Josiah begot Jeconiah and his brothers about the time they were carried away to Babylon.

And after they were brought to Babylon, Jeconiah begot Shealtiel, and Shealtiel begot Zerubbabel.  Zerubbabel begot Abiud, Abiud begot Eliakin, and Eliakin begot Azor.  Azor begot Zadok, Zadok begot Eliud.  Eliud begot Eleazar, Eleazar begot Matthan, and Matthan begot Jacob.  And Jacob begot Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus who is called Christ.  So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations, from David until the captivity in Babylon are fourteen generations, and from the captivity in Babylon until the Christ are fourteen generations.

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows:  After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit.  Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly.  But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.  And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins."

So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying:  "Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel," which is translated, "God is with us."

Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son.  And he called His name JESUS.

- Matthew 1:1-25

As we continue in the Christmas season, we turn to readings in Matthew (see also the readings of the past week which are from the first two chapters of Luke) .  We start with Matthew's genealogy, and we see what it tells us about Jesus.

 The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham: . . .  We note first that in Luke, the genealogy is given at the beginning of Jesus' ministry, not in the story of His birth.  But here in Matthew, it is the very beginning of the story.  My study bible says that Jesus means, "O Lord save" which, of course, refers to Jesus' role as Savior.  Christ means "Anointed One," the Messiah, the One who is filled with the Holy Spirit (see John 1:33).  It says, "Though the Son alone became Man, God the Father and the Holy Spirit work in Jesus Christ to save us.  Jesus became Man as a Jew, from the lineage of Abraham, the father of all Jews, and of David, Israel's greatest king and the prototype of the royal Messiah.  This genealogy reveals that the Son of God so identifies with the human condition that He takes it all on Himself and becomes part of it.  Christ's ancestry includes righteous and wicked people, faithful kings and murderers, Jews and Gentiles, kings and peasants."

Abraham begot Isaac, Isaac begot Jacob, and Jacob begot Judah and his bothers.  In Matthew, the genealogy begins with Abraham (while in Luke's 3rd chapter, the genealogy runs backward from Jesus to Adam).    Here we have the importance of the salvation history of Israel, as the Old Covenant was established with Abraham first, and it runs to Jesus who brings the New Covenant.  A note says, "God promised to bless all the tribes of the earth in Abraham (Genesis 12:3, 28:14); and this promise is subsequently fulfilled in Jesus Christ, the greatest Son of Abraham. 

Judah begot Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez begot Hezron, and Hezron begot Ram.  Ram begot Amminadab, Amminadab begot Nahshon, and Nahshon begot Salmon.  Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab, Boaz begot Obed by Ruth, . . .    Here's something very unusual.  Jewish genealogical lists normally consist of only men.  But this one given by Matthew for Jesus has several women listed:  Tamar, Rabah, Ruth, and Bathsheba.  It's highly unusual.  And, each of these women was either a Gentile or a sinner.  So why are they included?  My study bible says that the inclusion of these women declares what kind of a Savior is born in Jesus Christ:  God's graciousness is abundant and the Gentiles will also be called into the Church.  It also underscores the role of women in God's plan of salvation, and anticipates the special place of the Virgin Mary in this plan. 

. . . Obed begot Jesse, and Jesse begot David the king.   My study bible says, "Through anointing by Samuel, David was made king.  Through his psalms, David was reveals as a great prophet.  Thus, David foreshadows both the royal and the prophetic nature of Jesus Christ (Psalm 110).  As an adulterer and murderer, David also functions as a type for all repentant sinners. 

David the king begot Solomon by her who had been the wife of Uriah.  Solomon begot Rehoboam, Rebhoboam begot Abijah, and Abijah begot Asa.  Asa begot Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat begot Joam, and Joram begot Uzziah.  Uzziah begot Jotham, Jotham begot Ahaz, and Ahaz begot Hezekiah.  Hezekiah begot Manasseh, Manasseh begot Amon, and Amon begot Josiah.  Josiah begot Jeconiah and his brothers about the time they were carried away to Babylon.  And after they were brought to Babylon, Jeconiah begot Shealtiel, and Shealtiel begot Zerubbabel.  Zerubbabel begot Abiud, Abiud begot Eliakin, and Eliakin begot Azor.  Azor begot Zadok, Zadok begot Eliud.  Eliud begot Eleazar, Eleazar begot Matthan, and Matthan begot Jacob.  And Jacob begot Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus who is called Christ.   A note in my study bible says that Joseph can be named as Jesus' immediate predecessor since Old Testament marriage laws confer hereditary rights on adopted as well as biological sons.  The church fathers teach that Mary also was descended from David.  The "of whom" in "of whom was born Jesus who is called Christ" is feminine in the Greek, thus, it refers only to Mary.  Jesus is shown therefore to be born of Mary but not begotten of Joseph.

So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations, from David until the captivity in Babylon are fourteen generations, and from the captivity in Babylon until the Christ are fourteen generations.  My study bible says that "Christ's ancestors are arranged in three groups of fourteen generations.  Fourteen is the numerical equivalent of the consonants in the name David, underlining Jesus' descent from David.  This also shows the division of the leadership of the Jews, being under judges until David, under kings until Babylon, and under priests until Christ."

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows:  After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit.  Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly.   The genealogy in Matthew leads us through the generations, to the man who will be the earthly protector and take the role of earthly father of Jesus:  Joseph.  While in Luke we read a lot about Mary, here Matthew gives us some of the substance of Joseph.  My study bible says that "the righteousness of Joseph consisted of a mercy that transcends the Law (Hosea 6:6).  Joseph showed this mercy by his unwillingness to expose Mary's supposed sin, even though he was obliged by the Law to do so.  Her husband:  The Bible calls engaged couples husband and wife before their marriage (Rachel was called the wife of Jacob before marriage by virtue of their engagement in Genesis 29:21; see also Deuteronomy 22:23-24).  Thus, Joseph is called the husband of Mary, and Mary is called his wife (vv. 20, 24).  In the Church, Joseph is remembered as the Betrothed, pointing out Mary's ever-virginity." 

  But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.  And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins."   My study bible says, "An angel (or 'messenger') of the Lord dispels Joseph's false reasoning by announcing the utterly unreasonable:  the pregnancy of the Virgin is by the Holy Spirit.  Being born of a virgin proves Christ's divinity; only a revelation by God could serve as adequate evidence of this miracle."

 So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying:  "Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel," which is translated, "God is with us."    Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son.  And he called His name JESUS.  We look here to the prophecy of Isaiah 7:14, where it is foretold that a virgin would conceive a bear a Son.  Jesus, as conceived by Mary, isn't a "new Person" coming into the world, as my study bible puts it, but the eternal Son of God using her womb as His throne.  Both the virginal conception by means of the Holy Spirit and the name Immanuel, God with us declare the divinity of Christ.   The force of the Greek in the saying that "Joseph did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son" is a kind of guarantee that Joseph could not be His biological parent; it indicates nothing of the future afterward -- in fact my study bible points out that often this same language as used in the Greek (often translated "to" rather than "till"), indicates a situation that continues afterward:  see Luke 28:20; Genesis 8:7; Deuteronomy 34:6; 2 Kings 6;23.

In the Genealogy of Matthew and the continuation of the first chapter, we are introduced to Joseph.  As Joseph is not often mentioned, it is a great treat to get to know his character here.  We can see already, before Jesus' birth, He is given an earthly parent who exceeds the requirements of righteousness.  Joseph is a man who practices mercy in the way that Christ will teach us all to do; and as my study bible points out, he is a man who understands truly the meaning of Hosea 6:6 -- "I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings."  This is a man fit to be the parent of Christ, the earthly guardian and parent -- a man who is great in wisdom and spiritual understanding in so many ways we're already told about.  He is a "just" man -- a truly righteous person.  Most of all we see the mercy offered to this wife who is supposed to be a virgin, even before the dream of the angel's message to him.  Here is a man who is capable of receiving angels, as was Zacharias, as was Mary, as Elizabeth accepted the wisdom of the Holy Spirit.  We have again the coming of the Savior into the world, and with that the "dryness" of Israel is replenished with the living water of the Spirit, the voices and messages of angels to those who can hear and receive, who "have ears to hear and eyes to see" as Jesus will so often say, referring back to Isaiah and other prophets of Israel.  It reminds me of Joel's prophecy regarding the coming of the Lord:  "I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions" (Joel 2:28).  This is what is  happening in Israel, and it is a call to faith, to turning minds and hearts to God, to a repentance ready for the peace of God.  All is working together for this.  But again, we note, none of it runs "smoothly" in our way of thinking.  Joseph is immediately confronted with a heart-rending choice in his betrothal to Mary:  she is pregnant.  He is a righteous man, and prepares to put her away secretly, although a strict interpretation of the law would compel him to expose  her.  Everything "could have" gone all wrong at this moment, depending on Joseph's choice.  Had he been a hard-hearted man, a man afraid of the "opinions of men," who held those considerations stronger than what was pleasing to God, what could have been here, right from the beginning?  The babe in Mary's womb is bringing about all kinds of joyous understanding, prophecy, dreams, angels, and beauty of extraordinary glory, and light, beyond a worldly understanding.  Can we hear?  Could we have these eyes to see?  Do we share the heart of Joseph, this amazing man?  How thankful we must be to him, and to all other men who are like him.  We notice one more important and essential detail:  according to Matthew, it is Joseph who "called His name JESUS." 

Prepare the way of the Lord, make His paths straight

 The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham:  Abraham begot Isaac, Isaac begot Jacob, and Jacob begot Judah and his brothers.  Judah begot Perez and Zerah by Tamar.  Perez begot Hezron, and Hezron begot Ram.  Ram begot Amminadab, Amminadab begot Nahshon, and Nahshon begot Salmon.  Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab, Boaz begot Obed by Ruth, Obed begot Jesse, and Jesse begot David the king.

David the king begot Solomon by her who had been the wife of Uriah.  Solomon begot Rehoboam, Rehoboam begot Abijah, and Abijah begot Asa.  Asa begot Jehoshaphat, Jehoshapat begot Joram, and Joram begot Uzziah.  Uzziah begot Jotham, Jotham begot Ahaz, and Ahaz begot Hezekiah.  Hezekiah begot Manasseh, Manasseh begot Amon, and Amon begot Josiah.  Josiah begot Jeconiah and his brothers about the time they were carried away to Babylon.

And after they were brought to Babylon, Jeconiah begot Shealtiel, and Shealtiel begot Zerubbabel.  Zerubbabel begot Abiud, Abiud begot Eliakim, and Eliakim begot Azor.  Azor begot Zadok, Zadok begot Achim, and Achim begot Eliud.  Eliud begot Eleazar, Eleazar begot Matthan, and Matthan begot Jacob.  And Jacob begot Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus who is called Christ.  So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations, from David until the captivity in Babylon are fourteen generations, and from the captivity in Babylon until the Christ are fourteen generations.

* * *

In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!"  For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying:

"The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
'Prepare the way of the LORD,
Make His paths straight.'"

Now John himself was clothed in camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey.  Then Jerusalem, and all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.

- Matthew 1:1-17; 3:1-6

  The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham:  Abraham begot Isaac, Isaac begot Jacob, and Jacob begot Judah and his brothers.  Judah begot Perez and Zerah by Tamar.  Perez begot Hezron, and Hezron begot Ram.  Ram begot Amminadab, Amminadab begot Nahshon, and Nahshon begot Salmon.  Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab, Boaz begot Obed by Ruth, Obed begot Jesse, and Jesse begot David the king.  There are several notes here my study bible mentions regarding these passages.  Jesus means "O Lord, save, which refers to Jesus' role as Savior.  Christ means "the Anointed One," or the Messiah, "the One who is filled with the Spirit.  Though the Son alone became a man, God the Father and the Holy Spirit work in the Savior to save us.  Jesus became a man as a Jew, of the lineage of Abraham, the father of all Jews, with whom God established the covenant of circumcision; and of David, Israel's greatest king, the prototype of the royal Messiah.  Jesus fulfills the promise and the righteousness of the Jews, bringing those who are faithful and righteous to Himself, God incarnate.  The book of the genealogy reveals the history of God's choice of His servants and the preparation of humanity for His coming."  We note that Jewish genealogical lists normally included only men.  But here, Tamar and other women (Rahab and Ruth, and Bathsheba identified as the wife of Uriah) is unusual.  All of these women were either Gentiles or they were sinners, which indicates God's graciousness and mercy.  My study bible says, "This passage underscores the role of women in the history of salvation and anticipates the crucial role of Mary."  It adds that "King David mystically typifies the royalty of Christ (Ps. 110).  Through his anointing by Samuel, David received the authority of Kingship to lead Israel and preserve the covenant of God.  As an adulterer and murderer, however, he is a type of the repentant sinner.  Although Jesus is David's descendant, He is a more exalted King, King of the Church, whose Kingdom cannot be destroyed."

David the king begot Solomon by her who had been the wife of Uriah.  Solomon begot Rehoboam, Rehoboam begot Abijah, and Abijah begot Asa.  Asa begot Jehoshaphat, Jehoshapat begot Joram, and Joram begot Uzziah.  Uzziah begot Jotham, Jotham begot Ahaz, and Ahaz begot Hezekiah.  Hezekiah begot Manasseh, Manasseh begot Amon, and Amon begot Josiah.  Josiah begot Jeconiah and his brothers about the time they were carried away to Babylon.  And after they were brought to Babylon, Jeconiah begot Shealtiel, and Shealtiel begot Zerubbabel.  Zerubbabel begot Abiud, Abiud begot Eliakim, and Eliakim begot Azor.  Azor begot Zadok, Zadok begot Achim, and Achim begot Eliud.  Eliud begot Eleazar, Eleazar begot Matthan, and Matthan begot Jacob.  And Jacob begot Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus who is called Christ.  So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations, from David until the captivity in Babylon are fourteen generations, and from the captivity in Babylon until the Christ are fourteen generations.  My study bible says, "The lists of both Matthew and Luke (Luke 3:23) name Joseph as Jesus' immediate predecessor, conferring legal paternity according to Jewish tradition.  Some Church Fathers thought Mary, also, was of Davidic lineage.  Old Testament marriage laws confer all hereditary rights on adopted as well as biological sons.  Matthew, then, perhaps gives the succession of kings.  Luke, a biological descent.  Of whom (in of whom was born Jesus, v. 16) is a feminine form in Greek, referring only to Mary, not to Joseph.  Thus Matthew affirms that Jesus was born only of Mary.  Joseph acted as Jesus' father, but he was not His begetter."  We note also that the lists here are arranged in three groups of fourteen generations each.  "Fourteen," says my study bible, "is the numerical value of the consonants in the name David, underlining Jesus' Davidic descent."

In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!"  For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying:  "The voice of one crying in the wilderness:  'Prepare the way of the LORD,  Make His paths straight.'"  The call for the Kingdom begins with the preparation of John the Baptist, who calls on all to repent.  Baptism, symbolic of birth and death, ties here with this call to repentance, a radical about-face.  My study bible says that repentance is "a radical change of one's spirit, mind and heart, a complete reorientation of the whole of one's life and being."  It is followed by the confession of sins, "the decisive act of baptism, and an actual change in one's life, the 'fruits worthy of repentance.'" 

Now John himself was clothed in camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey.  My study bible tells us, "John's ascetic life-style is in conformity with that of the Jewish sects, such as the Essenes, who made their home in the wilderness and whose purpose was to prepare for the coming Kingdom of God.  His clothing is typical of a prophet.  Elijah, who also wore a leather belt, was the prophet expected to prepare Israel for the Messiah.  Monastics especially follow in Elijah's and the Baptist's mission of repentance and prophecy." 

Then Jerusalem, and all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins. A note tells us, "People are baptized by John, confessing their sins, so that they may be prepared to receive the Messiah.  Such preparation is usual in coming to faith.  Confession of sin is a sign of repentance and is essential to baptism even today.  John's baptism, however, was for remission of sins only, purifying people for the coming of the Messiah and helping to deliver them from the wrath to come; it did not confer regeneration nor adoption as a child of God, as does Christian baptism."

Matthew gives us the preparation for Jesus coming into the world, through a history of genealogy that descends from Abraham, through David, to Jesus.  The emphasis is on this Patriarchal and kingly heritage.  But, as my study bible noted, there are also women mentioned in this genealogy, a very unusual thing.  Some are sinners, some are Gentiles.  And so, God's work extends beyond the human conception of what a "good lineage" is or means; there is a hint here of repentance, that human beings do not fall rigidly into fixed categories when it comes to the work of God.  That fact becomes more poignant in the work of John the Baptist, whose mission is to prepare for the advent of the Messiah, the Christ.  We may read the genealogy and consider the whole history of Israel through the names mentioned here, and thoughts of the Exodus, and the Patriarchs, and the kings may give us a clue about what it is to be prepared for the culmination of this history in the ministry and teachings and Person of Jesus.  But that's not enough.  Just as the mention of these women give us hints that a human perspective alone on "preparation" isn't really all that's necessary in God's point of view, so this radical repentance, preached in the wilderness by a prophet dressed like Elijah, in a leather belt and camel's hair, eating locusts and wild honey, is also necessary.  Regardless of the enormity of the preparation revealed through this genealogy, it is just not enough, and a radical shake up of our point of view, a preparedness that consists only of repentance and confession of sins, so that we are truly "ready" to receive, will do.  It tells us something about God's revelation in human history.  Nothing can adequately prepare us for revelation, because it is always so "outside the box" of our expectations that we cannot truly be prepared for it.  The one thing we can do is be ready to cast aside our previous understanding, to admit both that we are fallible, and that we must be prepared for a total turn-around in our perspective, can be a real preparation for what is to come.  What God reveals will shake us up, ask of us change, and so the "death-and-rebirth" of baptism is the only adequate preparation.  Christ's revelation will be an entirely new dimension of what we are to understand spiritually, leading to the anointing of the Spirit that will change the world.  We cannot look back to the past to adequately prepare for the future.  Instead, our real preparation is to look to the future to prepare for it, and be ready for the change it will bring, the revelation of things we don't know, and our awareness of our own limitations and need for growth.  God has plans for us, and those plans are not things we can predict.  Let us remember that all of the spiritual history revealed in these Books that make up the Bible go into our own preparation and understanding.  In the liturgy, we also make confession and are ready to repent and change before we take the Body and Blood that become a part of us mystically, so that we, too, accept this change, this transforming agent, whatever it may reveal and however it may lead us.  All we can do is be prepared for the future, for that "eighth day" that takes us beyond what we can predict and will ask us to go further than we thought we could go.  For that, we let go of the past, and the ways of thinking that may interfere with His leading, the help of the Spirit, the Father who has prepared all beforehand.  Let us remember the radical shake up we are always to be ready to take on, the love and mercy that takes us outside of all categories we can come up with on our own.

Prepare the way of the Lord

The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the Son of Abraham:

Abraham begot Isaac, Isaac begot Jacob, and Jacob begot Judah and his brothers. Judah begot Amminadab, Amminadab begot Nahshon, and Nahshon begot Salmon. Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab, Boaz begot Obed by Ruth, Obed begot Jesse, and Jesse begot David the king.

David the king begot Solomon by her who had been the wife of Uriah. Solomon begot Rehoboam, Rehoboam begot Abijah, and Abijah begot Asa. Asa begot Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat begot Joram, and Joram begot Uzziah. Uzziah begot Jotham, Jotham begot Ahaz, and Ahaz begot Hezekiah. Hezekiah begot Manasseh, Manasseh begot Amon, and Amon begot Josiah. Josiah begot Jeconiah and his brothers about the time they were carried away to Babylon.

And after they were brought to Babylon, Jeconiah begot Shealtiel, and Shealtiel begot Zerubbabel. Zerubbabel begot Abiud, Abiud begot Eliakim, and Eliakim begot Azor. Azor begot Zadok, Zadok begot Achim, and Achim begot Eliud. Eliud begot Eleazar, Eleazar begot Matthan, and Matthan begot Jacob. And Jacob begot Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus who is called Christ.

So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations, from David until the captivity in Babylon are fourteen generations, and from the captivity in Babylon until the Christ are fourteen generations.

* * *

In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!" For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying:

"The voice of one crying in the wilderness:

'Prepare the way of the LORD;

Make His paths straight.'"

Now John himself was clothed in camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.

- Matthew 1:1-17; Matthew 3:1-6

In today's lectionary reading, we begin reading from the Gospel of Matthew. First, we are given the genealogy of Christ. In Matthew, we begin with Abraham, the father of all Jews. Abraham is the spiritual father for many more. It was he who established the covenant of circumcision with the LORD (Genesis 17). Jesus' genealogy goes through David, royal king and, as my study bible puts it, "prototype of the royal Messiah." Through holy men and kings comes Jesus' descent. Jesus' name means "O Lord, save." My study bible says, "Jesus fulfills the promise and the righteousness of the Jews, bringing those who are faithful and righteous to Himself, God Incarnate. The book of the genealogy reveals the history of God's choice of His servants and the preparation of humanity for His coming." While in the Jewish tradition genealogical lists usually would include only men, here Matthew gives us several women. All are either Gentiles or sinners. In Jesus' lineage, then, we have a sense of the history of humanity -- or more specifically, the ways in which God's graciousness works through humanity. My study bible says, "This passage underscores the role of women in the history of salvation and anticipates the crucial role of Mary." Through holy men and kings, through Gentiles and sinners, Jesus is descended. All, in some way, give us images of the grace of God working through people in this world. The Old Covenant was initiated through Abraham, kept through David (a repentant sinner). Jesus, as Savior, comes to initiate the New Covenant. While there are many fathers of Israel and God's people, the Gospel is specific about Mary: she is the one who gives birth to Jesus.

In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!" The lectionary reading skips over the passages covering the events of Jesus' birth and childhood. John the Baptist heralds the events of Jesus' ministry, preparing the people for the One who is to come. Repentance, says my study bible, always accompanies belief. It is an about-face, a preparation for something new, a new way of being, a new way of thinking. We repent in order to accept. The New Covenant is at hand. Jesus' ministry will inaugurate something new, and the people are prepared for it through John the Baptist. John was a tremendously revered holy figure in his time.

For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying: "The voice of one crying in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the LORD; make His paths straight.'" John the Baptist, whom Jesus will call the greatest of the prophets, was "spoken of" by Isaiah. He announces that the kingdom is at hand; he is preparing the way of the Lord, for the true kingdom. The King who is a descendant of kings will bring to us the grace that initiates the new presence of the Kingdom in this world.

Now John himself was clothed in camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins. John's attire is like that of Elijah. Elijah was the prophet who was expected to return to prepare Israel for the Messiah. John's holiness is evidenced in his ascetic life, living and preaching and baptizing in the wilderness, devoted to the preparation for the kingdom. He compels all to repentance and confession, a baptism of preparation for the Lord. He was an extremely popular figure -- all Jerusalem and Judea come to him out in the wilderness that extends from Jerusalem to the Dead Sea.

Coupled with the genealogy, we get a strange sense of God's work in the world: generation after generation is called once again to pick up the mantle of what it is to bear God's word and work in the world. Each is called upon to do its own part, to pick up again the Covenant and live it. Holy men and kings populate the list, along with Gentiles and sinners, and unusually, several women. Our Lord is born of a woman, according to the Gospels; Joseph is a worldly father but did not beget Jesus. That was reserved for Mary, who, while still unmarried and a young virgin, accepted a role given to her and lived it faithfully. Every generation, as we read through both Old Testament and New, has its own role to play, its own challenges in living out the kingdom as God has taught and as they understand. The Babylonian captivity and exile is also here present in the genealogy, so there is also the image of humanity suffering through the violation of that Covenant. In the images here, we get a sense of how we each as individuals have a role to play in salvation. In Revelation 21, the Evangelist writes: And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God." . . . Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” This is what we think of in today's passage, as the world awaits the Christ in the announcement of John the Baptist, he in whom the spirit of Elijah is returned. We have just passed through Holy Week and Easter, we await the revelation of Pentecost. The Book of Revelation teaches us about what is to come, as well. But the words of the One on the throne remain perpetually true, in the promise of the beginning of the Gospel of Matthew, in the genealogy and renewal of generations in the hope of God and Covenant, in the promise of the child born to Mary, in the work and baptism of John: "Behold, I make all things new." This action is always present, continually with us. In the act of repentance, we each open up and turn to His work, in each generation, in the possibility of any moment. He is the One who saves. His presence and renewing work is always with us.