Daily Seasonal Reflections
Tuesday of the Third Week of Advent
Fr. Trey Nelson 
 
“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.”  (From Matthew 1:1-17) 
 
Today’s Gospel selection for Mass is a long one.   If you have not looked at it yet, I invite you to do so.  It is a rather lengthy listing of genealogy of Jesus Christ, and begins with the words, “The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.” Most people will not recognize most of these names, and one may even “become lost” as the priest or deacon makes his way through the reading of them. This passage, however, has one resounding message: Jesus fully entered our human condition, with all its virtues and vices. One of the main purposes of Matthew’s Gospel, which was written for Jewish Christians by Jewish Christians, is to show the continuity of Jesus in the history and tradition of Israel. Simply put, it is a reminder that Jesus was a physical being who existed in real time.  Fully human in all things except sin, Jesus, because of the love of the Father, immersed himself into our world and our human frailty.
 
During each Mass, the priest or deacon, when preparing the gifts, pours a tiny drop of water into the wine.  This is done to symbolize the union of Christ’s divinity with our humanity and the sanctification of Christians through their union with Jesus Christ. As he does so, he prays (inaudibly) the words, “By the mystery of this water and wine, may we come to share in the divinity of Christ, who humbled himself to share in our humanity.” (Roman Missal. Order of the Mass. Para. 24.)  I am also reminded of the words that will speak on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, as we pause to ask God’s blessing on our nativity scene in the sanctuary of church. “When our need for a Savior was great
 you sent your Son to be born of the Virgin Mary. To our lives he brings joy and peace, justice, mercy, and love. Lord, bless all who look upon this manger; may it remind us of the humble birth of Jesus, and raise our thoughts to him.” (Blessing of a Christmas Manger or Nativity Scene. www.usccb.org.)
 
What does it mean to you and me that God’s love leapt forth from the heavens, if you will, to bring grace and salvation to our lives?  As you gaze upon the figures that will decorate our churches and homes this holiday season, renew your belief in the promise that God lives and breathes in our hearts, homes, and lives, with all our imperfections.  The Lord looks at us in our fractured nature and says, “I love you.”