Advent Reflection Day 18 (17th December 2025)

First reading: Genesis 49:2,8-10
Psalm 71:1-4,7-8,17
Gospel: Matthew 1:1-17

Jesus is the fulfillment of prophecies. The genealogy of Jesus Christ in today’s Gospel is carefully arranged into three groups of fourteen generations each. The three groups are based on:

1) the rise of Israel to a great kingdom under David and Solomon;
2) the fall of the nation in the Babylonian exile;
3) the raising of the nation after the exile.

The three groups symbolically represent the creation of man in God’s image, the loss of man’s greatness in Adam’s sin, and the regaining of greatness through Christ Jesus. We need to accept, support, lift up, and correct those we presume to be black sheep in our family because there will always be one in every family.

Jesus’ genealogy mentioned a harlot named Rahab, an adulteress named Tamar and a Moabite gentile woman named Ruth. We must remember that God can bring good out of the worst persons and circumstances. Finally, we need to appreciate our membership in the divine family of God through Baptism and behave as holy children of a Holy God.

May the good Lord bless his words in our hearts through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Written by Sis Victoria Oluwafemi