Daily Gospel Reflection for December 17, 2021

Join us as we reflect, ponder, and pray together inspired by today's Gospel.

This poor gospel gets the worst rap: the dreaded “begats.” Abraham was the father of Isaac, who was the father of Jacob, who was the father of Judah, who was the father of—

Raise your hand if I’ve already lost you.

Still, chances are good that, if you’re a Catholic Mom reader, you’re probably the sort who’s already heard the homily (at least once) that the genealogy of Jesus is full of rapscallions. Abraham broke trust that God would let him conceive through his rightful wife. Jacob was a sneak who played favorites. Judah sold his little brother into slavery. David, depending on whose version you buy, was a murderous adulterer at best. King after king named in this list betrayed God’s law.

By my math, that’s 42 generations of sinners sinning. That’s a lot of sinning sinners.

Today we also begin the last days of Advent, celebrated in what are called the “O Antiphons,” the antiphons prayed with Mary’s Magnificat December 17-23 in Evening Prayer of the Liturgy of the Hours. The first will be prayed this evening:

“O Wisdom of our God Most High,
guiding creation with power and love:
come to teach us the path of knowledge!”

If we hold this prayer up to Christ’s genealogy, we can see 42 generations of God’s plan remaining undone even by the worst of sinners. We see God guiding creation with power and love. God’s wisdom enters into human history, a family tree, and fills that tree with knowledge. With wisdom lived, even the biggest disaster of a family can be redeemed. Even the biggest disaster of a family can beget Christ Himself.

Ponder:

What parts of my past seem irredeemable? What can I do today to invite God into those parts with me so that He can fill me with His wisdom?

Pray:

God, Father of all generations, I surrender my entire family tree to You. I trust You to redeem us. Shed Your wisdom upon all the living so that we may follow You to the Cross, the new Tree of Life.