Burn & Shine

December 17

Read this Gospel passage aloud to the family   

Matthew 1:1-17 – The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
              Abraham became the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers. Judah became the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar. Perez became the father of Hezron, Hezron the father of Ram, Ram the father of Amminadab. Amminadab became the father of Nahshon, Nahshon the father of Salmon, Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab. Boaz became the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth. Obed became the father of Jesse, Jesse the father of David the king.     
              David became the father of Solomon, whose mother had been the wife of Uriah. Solomon became the father of Rehoboam, Rehoboam the father of Abijah, Abijah the father of Asaph. Asaph became the father of Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, Joram the father of Uzziah. Uzziah became the father of Jotham, Jotham the father of Ahaz, Ahaz the father of Hezekiah. Hezekiah became the father of Manasseh, Manasseh the father of Amos, Amos the father of Josiah. Josiah became the father of Jechoniah and his brothers at the time of the Babylonian exile.    
              After the Babylonian exile, Jechoniah became the father of Shealtiel, Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel, Zerubbabel the father of Abiud. Abiud became the father of Eliakim, Eliakim the father of Azor, Azor the father of Zadok. Zadok became the father of Achim, Achim the father of Eliud, Eliud the father of Eleazar. Eleazar became the father of Matthan, Matthan the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary. Of her was born Jesus who is called the Christ.  
              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 Christ, fourteen generations.    

(Parent)  Reread this part a few times aloud       

“…Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary.  Of her was born Jesus who is called the Christ.”

(Parent)  Read this meditation aloud to the family

Does this seem like a boring reading?  It’s not!  In it is packed all the drama of human life!  In the lives of the roughly 35 people mentioned in Jesus’ lineage above, there are stories of: deceit, adultery, prostitution, murder, broken families, sensuality, idolatry, evil, and war.  As well, there are stories of promise, faith, covenant, good, the rebuilding of lives, love…             

The point is: Jesus enters into all the drama of human life and history.  Jesus doesn’t excuse Himself from our darkness and our sin.  He comes right into it.  And He dwells there.  We all have our sins, our weakness, our dark times.  Jesus comes into our world and into our lives and into us.  We are what He suffered and died for.  He chose this!  He chose us!  Spend time during prayer looking at the Cross.            

As a family, pray a portion of the Rosary together (very short if children are young) reflecting on the Scripture passage above. (Optional: allow a brief time for discussion or questions from children concerning their thoughts and prayer.)