12.16.13

Lectio:   Mt   1.1-17                                                                                                                                                                    
Meditatio: “Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, of her was born Jesus who is called the Messiah.” Mt 1.16       

Oratio: O God, You had foretold through the prophets that the Messiah would come from the  house of David - and so He did in the fullness of time.

I remember in the genealogy of Jesus as recorded by Matthew, Joseph was shown to be of the house of David and the patrimony of a child was determined by the male side of the family unless the father disowned the child. How wonderful, that the prophecy of old came to be true even though Jesus was conceived and born of a virgin.

Grant that I may be ever in awe at Your wisdom and Your power and Your word; and for the grace to readily accept Your word as proclaimed now by the Pope and the bishops in union with him in all matters of faith and morals.

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: "Joseph...husband...Mary. Messiah”; the conclusion of Jesus genealogy which shows clearly that Jesus was a son of David and in it we see an implicit confirmation of Jesus’ virginal birth. In prayer seek the grace to be always gratefully to a kind and merciful and all-knowing God who watches over us and guards and guides us through our guardian angels for we are wonderfully and greatly blest beyond any merit on our part.

Tomorrow's reading: Mt   1.18-25