But for the Jews at the time of Matthew (or any other time, perhaps) this was the best way to begin the story of Jesus.
You see, every name in that genealogy was another story, and a part of the big story.
Look at your own family trees and note the big and little stories wrapped around this uncle, or that aunt, or those cousins, that lived in this place or that place, at this time or that time.
Remember the scandals. Remember the triumphs. Remember the fame. Remember the shame. It’s all there.
And for Jesus’ familial line, there was a very important figure who figured in — King David.
And this genealogy is a tracing down from and through him.
And it gets more interesting.
I will quote from an article by Edward Sri from the Angelus publication of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles:
“Here, Matthew divides all 42 generations of the genealogy into three sets of 14. He is drawing our attention to the number 14 which is significant because David’s name adds up to 14 in Hebrew. Let me explain. In the Hebrew alphabet, letters are also given numeric value. The three Hebrew consonants in David’s name are D W D (D=4, W=6, D=4), adding up to 14. Thus, the very structure of Matthew’s genealogy centered around three sets of 14 generations subtly proclaims Jesus to be the ‘thrice-dividic Son of David.'”
It all reaches a crescendo when the word announces that Jesus “The Christ” (that is, the Messiah) was born of Mary.
We are in the final days of Advent. Intensity is the word now. We are being drawn to and into the story of all stories — the story of Christ.
Our story, too!
We are meant to find our roots, and our future, and our meaning, and our destiny in the foreverness of our God.
A simple genealogical story opens the door for our coming to learn about where we came from and where we are going, because of this little baby sprung from the Davidic line that would open the doors of eternal life for all who believe.
Our Alleluia verse sings it well: “O Wisdom of our God most high, guiding creation with power and love: come to teach us the path of knowledge! Alleluia!”
Father Perry D. Leiker is the 13th pastor of St. Bernard Catholic Church. Reach him at (323) 255-6142. Email Father Perry at pleiker@stbernard-church.com. Follow Father Perry on Twitter: @MrDeano76.
