12.16.14

Lectio:  Mt 1.1-17                                            

Meditatio: "The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David” ... “Thus the total number of generations from Abraham to David is fourteen generations; from David to the Babylonian exile, fourteen generations; from the Babylonian exile to the Messiah, fourteen generations.” Mt 1.1, 17

Oratio: O God, You words are truth and the promised Messiah was  of the House of David.
      
I remember Matthew the Evangelist gave us the genealogy of Jesus to show that He was of the House of David. He also used a subtle but very effective way of emphasizing that Jesus was of David’s lineage  for the He brew letters that make up fourteen also spell out David.  In prayer give thanks for the Evangelists for preserving the key elements of our faith so that we more readily believe.

I ask this and all things in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You
and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.

Contemplatio: spend some time in silence and meditate on the selected passage and hear what
God is saying to you.

Operatio: reflect: "genealogy....Jesus Christ...son of David” the whole purpose of the long genealogy is to show that Jesus is the son of David and secondarily to show that he is a direct descendant of Abraham, our father in faith for all nations. Thus Jesus is the fulfillment of our deepest longings. Seek the grace of gratitude for the faith we have and its foundation that have been handed on to us.                         

Tomorrow's reading: Mt 1.18-25