Matthew 1: 1-17: The Genealogy of Jesus
Carmel Monastery, Zamboanga City
To forget something is terrible. We forget things, names, anniversaries, birthdays and many others. To forget a birthday or anniversaries of your love one is unforgivable to us!
Matthew gave us a roll-call of names of people - the genealogy of Jesus. Most of the names mentioned are either unknown or known as sinners (Tamar - the prostitute, David - the womanizer, Jacob - the robber of birth rights, and a list of filthy kings). Matthew wanted us to remember that even Jesus’ lineage was not perfect one, yet it became the source of humanity’s salvation. The good news is – something good may come up from “not so good” things in life. God makes all things beautiful in His time.
But such beautiful things may happen only if we know how to accept each others weaknesses, sinfulness and limitations. The first step to change is ACCEPTANCE - To accept our own and others’ imperfections. There is no such thing as perfect person, family, and community. An inmate in New Bilibid Prison said, “Because of shame I decided to reform my life when I met people who accepted me as I am.”
Remember that all of us are sinners yet loved by God. Christmas is a time to remember the name of Jesus – which means “God is with us”
He became like us in everything but sin.
- Fr.Willy M. Samson,SJ
Carmel Monastery, Zamboanga City
December 17, 2007
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