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Monday, December 17, 2007
Genesis 49:2, 8-10, Psalm 72, Matthew 1:1-17
Link to Readings --> http://www.usccb.org/nab/121707.shtml
MEET YOUR FOLKS
"Listen to Israel, your father." —Genesis 49:2
When a young man falls in love and gets serious about a young woman, the
time soon comes to bring her home to meet his family. Often this is a time
of some anxiety. His worst fear might be: I'm afraid she'll leave me
because she doesn't like my folks.
Jesus is the Groom (Mk 2:19) and we are the prospective bride. In
Matthew's Gospel, Jesus introduces His ancestors before we get serious
about our relationship with Him. It's as if He is saying that we won't be
able to love Him unless we also love His family.
Imagine Jesus bringing you home to introduce you to His ancestors: "Come
in! First, I'd like you to meet Jacob (Mt 1:2), a master deceiver (Gn
27:5ff). Next, I want you to meet Judah and Tamar (Mt 1:3). They aren't
married, and conceived their son through prostitution (Gn 38:18). In this
room, I'd like you to meet another prostitute, Rahab (Mt 1:5; Jos 2:1).
Now here's a wonderful lady, Ruth (Mt 1:5). We had to go outside of the
immediate family to find a worthy one like her (Ru 1:4). Over here is one
of my favorites, David (Mt 1:6), a man after My Father's heart. Well, he
did have a child through adultery with Bathsheba (2 Sm 11:4), and he did
kill her husband and many others. Meet Solomon (Mt 1:7), the wise one of
My family. He set a world record for lust, and his son Rehoboam (Mt 1:7)
caused a civil war (1 Kgs 11:4; 12:13ff). Did you get to meet Manasseh?
(Mt 1:10) He'd fit right in with today's 'culture of death' (see 2 Kgs
21:16)..."
Will you decide to walk out on Jesus? Or do you love Him enough to stay
and love those He loves (1 Jn 4:20-21). Then He will adopt you into His
family (Mk 3:34-35).
Prayer: Father, I love all of Your children, the family You have redeemed
through my older Brother Jesus.
Promise: "Justice shall flower in His days." —Ps 72:7
Praise: "O Wisdom, O holy Word of God, You govern all creation with Your
strong yet tender care. Come and show Your people the way to salvation."
(This teaching was submitted by a member of our editorial team.)
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Rescript: In accord with the "Code of Canon Law", I hereby grant my
permission to publish "One Bread, One Body" covering the period from
December 1, 2008 through January 31, 2008
†Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Vicar General Archdiocese of Cincinnati, July
30, 2007
The rescript is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be
free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have
granted ecclesial permission agree with the contents, opinions, or
statements expressed.
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