Jesse Trees (genealogy of Jesus activity for families)

Fisheaters.com ^ | not given | Fisheaters

[Salvation]

Jesse Trees

A Jesse Tree is a depiction of the genealogy of Jesus designed in such a way as to show that He springs from the "root of Jesse"  per the prophecy of Isaias 11:1: And there shall come forth a rod out of the root of Jesse [David's father], and a flower shall rise up out of his root. This prophecy was recalled by St. Paul, and on the first Sunday of Advent, we remember his words with the Epistle reading of Romans 15:4-13, which reads, in part: Wherefore receive one another, as Christ also hath received you unto the honour of God. For I say that Christ Jesus was minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers. But that the Gentiles are to glorify God for his mercy, as it is written: Therefore will I confess to thee, O Lord, among the Gentiles, and will sing to thy name. And again he saith: Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people. And again: Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and magnify him, all ye people. And again Isaias saith: There shall be a root of Jesse; and he that shall rise up to rule the Gentiles, in him the Gentiles shall hope. All throughout Advent, we will hear references to Christ's ancestors in the Mass readings. The artistic depiction of Christ's royal genealogical heritage is very old; the West facade of Chartres Cathedral, dated to ca. A.D. 1150, for example, has a lancet window that depicts the "Jesse Tree" (see stained glass image below). Some Jesse Trees depict the 28 generations listed in Matthew -- starting with Jesse and ending in Jesus. Others depict representatives from that genealogy (Jesse, David, Solomon, etc.) as do most medieval Jesse Trees. The medieval German manuscript at right depicts only 6 elements in the Jesse Tree: Jesse, two prophets with scrolls filled in with verses concerning Christ and His Mother, two prophets with scrolls with no verses, and, toppping it all off, the Virgin holding her Son. Most modern Jesse Trees use symbols which summarize the Old Testament and show, basically, the history of the world up to Christ (Adam and Eve, Noe, Abraham, etc.). A Jesse Tree in the home, then is simply the Advent custom of using a collection of symbols that portray the fact that Jesus has come, as predicted, from the root of Jesse. These symbols can be hung on a small, literal tabletop-sized tree, or on a branch brought in from outside. They can be hung on small artificial trees made of wood or metals, or on two-dimensional wooden trees. The symbolic ornaments -- which can vary from family to family -- can be storebought or homemade -- for example, painted onto wooden rounds, wood carved into shapes, embroidered onto linen rounds which are then sewn onto round hoops to hold their shape, painted on paper, cut out from cardboard, etc. Gorgeous paintings and graphics could be scanned, printed out, and glued onto wood and shellacked. Or they can be made, like Christmas Tree ornaments, out of "Baker's Clay." Some families add ornaments to their Jesse Trees one each day, starting on 1 December to time with the Advent Calendar and O Antiphons (24 ornaments); others add them all at once on 1 December. Some make Jesse trees that stress prophecy, with symbols of the Old Testament Prophets and the Sibyls; others makes ones that stress the history of the world from creation. Whatever works for your family is fine, but whatever you do, and whatever symbols you use, the point should be to show that Christ springs from the root of Jesse, per Isaias's prophecy, and with the Infant Christ being held by Mary at the apex.

Suggested Symbols for a 24-Day Jesse Tree Stressing Prophecy & Typology
December 1	Melchisedech	a man offering bread and wine (Genesis 14:18)
December 2	Abraham	a man holding a knife (Genesis 12:1-3)
December 3	Isaac	a man preparing to be sacrificed on an altar/ ram (Genesis 22:1-14)
December 4	Jacob	man dreaming of a ladder to Heavenr (Genesis 25:1-34; 28:10-15)
December 5	Moses	man holding the tablets with the Commandments (Exodus 20)
December 6	Isaias	a man being martyred by a saw
December 7	Jesse	tree stump with flower. The classic depiction is of Jesse lying on his side with the branch of Jesus's "family tree" growing from his side. (1 Kings 16:1-13)
December 8	David	a man playing a harp (1 Kings 17:12-51)
December 9	Ezechiel	a man seeing the four living creatures/symbols of the Evangelists (Ezechiel 1)
December 10	Daniel	a man among the lions (Daniel 14)
December 11	Jeremias	a man holding a scroll
December 12	Malachias	Eucharist and incense (Malachias 1:10-11)
December 13	The Cumean Sybil	very old Italian-Greek woman in a cave surrounded with leaves she writes on, or a jar holding her voice
December 14	The Erythraean Sybil	a woman holding a scroll or writing on leaves
December 15	The Tiburtine Sybil	a woman holding a book and/or talking to Augustus about the coming One
December 16	John the Baptist	scallop shell, locusts, honey, tall slim Cross (Mark 1:1-8)
The Golden Nights Begin...
December 17	Christ as Sapientia	oil lamp (Isaias 28:29; Wisdom 11:2-3)
December 18	Christ as Adonai	crown (Isaias 11:4-5, 33:22)
December 19	Christ as Radix Jesse	flower (Isaias 11:1,10, Micheas 5:1)
December 20	Christ as Clavis David	key (Isaias 22:22, Isaias 9:6)
December 21	Christ as Oriens	rising sun (Isaias 9:2)
December 22	Christ as Rex Gentium	scepter (Isaias 9:7, 2:4)
December 23	Christ as Emmanuel	Chalice and Host (Isaias 7:14; 33:22)
Christmas Eve	The Nativity	Mary holding the Infant Jesus, with Star of Bethlehem over their heads (Luke 2:1-20)

Suggested Symbols for a 24-Day Jesse Tree Stressing the History of the World
December 1	Creation	sun, moon, stars, animals, earth (Genesis 1:1-31; 2:1-4)
December 2	Adam and Eve	Tree of Life, man, woman (Genesis 2:7-9, 18-24)
December 3	The Fall of Man	Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, serpent, bitten apple (Genesis 3:1-7 and 23-24)
December 4	Noe	ark, animals, dove, rainbow (Genesis 6:5-8, 13-22; 7:17, 23, 24; 8:1, 6-22)
December 5	Abraham	knife (Genesis 12:1-3)
December 6	Isaac	bundle of wood, altar, ram (Genesis 22:1-14)
December 7	Jacob	ladder (Genesis 25:1-34; 28:10-15)
December 8	Joseph	well, multi-colored tunic (Genesis 25:1-34; 28:10-15)
December 9	Moses	baby in basket among reeds, Commandments (Exodus 2:1-10)
December 10	Samuel	lamp, temple (1 Kings 2:21, 3:1-20)
December 11	Jesse	tree stump with flower. The classic depiction is of Jesse lying on his side with the branch of Jesus's "family tree" growing from his side. (1 Kings 16:1-13)
December 12	David	harp (1 Kings 17:12-51)
December 13	Solomon	temple, scales of Justice, sword and baby (III Kings 3:5-14, 16-28)
December 14	Joseph	carpenter's tools, flowering staff (Matthew 1:18-25)
December 15	Our Lady	lily, crown of stars, pierced heart, roses (Genesis 3:15, Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-38)
December 16	John the Baptist	scallop shell, locusts, honey, tall slim Cross (Mark 1:1-8)
The Golden Nights Begin...
December 17	Christ as Sapientia	oil lamp (Isaias 28:29; Wisdom 11:2-3)
December 18	Christ as Adonai	crown (Isaias 11:4-5, 33:22)
December 19	Christ as Radix Jesse	flower (Isaias 11:1,10, Micheas 5:1)
December 20	Christ as Clavis David	key (Isaias 22:22, Isaias 9:6)
December 21	Christ as Oriens	rising sun (Isaias 9:2)
December 22	Christ as Rex Gentium	scepter (Isaias 9:7, 2:4)
December 23	Christ as Emmanuel	Chalice and Host (Isaias 7:14; 33:22)
Christmas Eve	The Nativity	Mary holding the Infant Jesus, with Star of Bethlehem over their heads (Luke 2:1-20)

 
  
Note: I've seen some pre-fab Jesse Tree Kits that use a so-called "Star of David" (also called "Magen David" or "Shield of David") as a symbol. The "Star of David" -- which wasn't a popular symbol of Jewry until the 18th c. when it was adopted by the Rothschilds (though it was known before then in post-Temple Judaism and is found in a few synagogue decorations) -- is actually a hexagram with 6 points, 6 equilateral triangles, forming a 6-sided hexagon interiorly. It is the ancient star of Remphan (Moloch , Chiun, or Saturn) and Ashtoreth mentioned in Amos 5:26 and Acts 7, and one of the most powerful symbols used in Freemasonry, Satanism, and the occult. For a true symbol of David, use a harp or a crown; for Solomon, use a temple or a crown. (The term "Solomon's Shield" is often used to refer to the Star of David, but Solomon's Shield" is actually a pentagram.)
 

[Salvation]

MOSES December 11 Symbols: Baby in Basket, Stone Tablets, Burning Bush Moses led the Israelites, the Chosen people, out of Egypt to the Promised Land. Later, he received the Ten Commandments from the hand of God on Mount Sinai. God appeared to Moses in the form of a bush, which burned but was not consumed, a symbol of the Virgin Birth of Christ. The Law of Moses as symbolized in the tablets which God gave to Moses on Mount Sinai, was fulfilled in Christ who brings a law of love. Recommended Readings: Exodus 31:16-18; 3:2-5

[Salvation]

SAMUEL December 12 Symbols: Lamp, Temple The lamp is a symbol for the Word of God, "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet." (Psalm 119:105) Samuel became a prophet, the light of God to His people. Recommended Readings: 1 Kings 3:2-4

[Salvation]

JESSE December 13 Symbols: Crimson Robe, Shepherd's Staff The purple robe is a symbol of royalty and is used for Jesse because he was the father of King David. Jesse was the ancestor of many kings, most importantly the King of Kings, Jesus Christ. Recommended Readings: 1 Kings 16:1, 4-5, 11-13

[Salvation]

KING DAVID December 14 Symbols: Six-Pointed Star, Slingshot and 4 Stone, Harp, Crown The six-pointed star is the emblem of the Royal House of David even to this day. Christ, who is born of the House of David, can truly claim this emblem as His own. The crown and scepter signify Christ's universal kingship. Christ is not only the King of the Jewish nation, but the "Desired One of all," the cornerstone which unites both Jew and Gentile. Recommended Readings: 2 Kings 5:3-4; 2:1-7

[Salvation]

KING SOLOMON December 15 Symbols: Scale of Justice, Temple, Crown Solomon is honored in Scripture as the wisest monarch. Though he used a real sword to make his point, he used his wisdom, the sword of justice, to divide truth from lies. God foretold that David's son and heir, Solomon, would be the one to build a temple to the Lord God. Solomon did in fact complete the construction of the temple during his reign. Recommended Readings: 3 Kings 3:23-28; 3 Kings 5:5

[Salvation]

JONAH December 16 Symbols: Whale And Jonah began to enter into the city after one day's journey: and he cried and said: Yet forty days and Ninive shall be destroyed. And the men of Ninive believed in God: and they proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth from the greatest to the least. As Jonah remained in the whale three days, so Christ remained three days in the earth after His death. Recommended Readings: Jonah 1:11-15

[Salvation]

Today’s Gospel (Also read at the Vigil of Christmas Mass)

From: Matthew 1:1-17

The Ancestry of Jesus Christ

---

[1] The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the son of
Abraham.

[2] Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob
the father of Judah and his brothers, [3] and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah
by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram, [4]
and Ram the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab the father of Nahson, and
Nahson the father of Salmon, [5] and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and
Boaz due father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, [6] and Jesse
the father of David the king.

And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah, [7] and Solomon the
father of Rehoboam, and Rehoboam the father of Abijah, and Abijah the father
of Asa, [8] and Asa the father of Jehoshaphat, and Jehoshaphat the father of
Joram, and Joram the father of Uzziah, [9] and Uzziah the father of Jotham, and
Jotham the father of Ahaz, and Ahaz the father of Hezekiah, [10] and Hezekiah
the father of Manasseh, and Manasseh the father of Amos, and Amos the father
of Josiah, [11] and Josiah the father of Jechoniah and his brothers, at the time
of the deportation to Babylon.

[12] And after the deportation to Babylon: Jechoniah was the father of Shealtiel,
and Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel, [13] and Zerubbabel the father of Abiud,
and Abiud the father of Eliakim, and Eliakim the father of Azor, [14] and Azor
the father of Zadok, and Zadok the father of Aching and Achim the father of Eliud,
[15] and Eliud the father of Eleazar, and Eleazar the father of Matthan, and
Matthan the father of Jacob, [16] and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of
Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ.

[17] So all the generations from Abraham to David were fourteen generations,
and from David to the deportation to Babylon fourteen generations, and from the
deportation to Babylon to the Christ fourteen generations.

*********************************************************************************************
Commentary:

1. This verse is a kind of title to St Matthew’s entire Gospel. The promises God
made to Abraham for the salvation of mankind (Gen 12:3) are fulfilled in Jesus
Christ, as is Nathan’s prophecy to King David of an everlasting kingdom (2 Sam
7:12-16).

The genealogy presented here by St Matthew shows Jesus’ human ancestry
and also indicates that salvation history has reached its climax with the birth
of the Son of God through the working of the Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ, true God
and true man, is the expected Messiah.

The genealogy is presented in a framework of three series, each consisting of
fourteen links which show the progressive development of salvation history.

For the Jews (and for other Eastern peoples of nomadic origin) genealogical
trees were of great importance because a person’s identity was especially
linked to family and tribe, with place of birth taking secondary importance. In
the case of the Jewish people there was the added religious significance of
belonging by blood to the chosen people.

In Christ’s time each family still kept a careful record of its genealogical tree,
since because of it people acquired rights and duties.

6. Four women are named in these genealogies—Tamar (cf. Gen 38; 1 Chron 2:4),
Rahab (cf. Josh 2:6,17), Bathsheba (cf. 2 Sam 11:12, 24) and Ruth (cf. Book of
Ruth). These four foreign women, who in one way or another are brought into the
history of Israel, are one sign among many others of God’s design to save all men.

By mentioning sinful people, God’s ways are shown to be different from man’s.
God will sometimes carry out his plan of salvation by means of people whose
conduct has not been just. God saves us, sanctifies us and chooses us to do
good despite our sins and infidelities—and he chose to leave evidence of this at
various stages in the history of our salvation.

11. The deportation to Babylon, described in 2 Kings 24-25, fulfilled the prophets’
warning to the people of Israel and their kings that they would be punished for
their infidelity to the commandments of the Law of God, especially the first
commandment.

16. Jewish genealogies followed the male line. Joseph, being Mary’s husband,
was the legal father of Jesus. The legal father is on a par with the real father as
regards rights and duties. This fact provides a sound basis for recognizing St
Joseph as Patron of the whole Church, since he was chosen to play a very
special role in God’s plan for our salvation; with St Joseph as his legal father,
Jesus the Messiah has David as his ancestor.

Since it was quite usual for people to marry within their clan, it can be concluded
that Mary belonged to the house of David. Several early Fathers of the Church
testify to this—for example, St Ignatius of Antioch, St Irenaeus, St Justin and
Tertullian, who base their testimony on an unbroken oral tradition.

It should also be pointed out that when St Matthew comes to speak of the birth
of Jesus, he uses an expression which is completely different from that used for
the other people in the genealogy. With these words the text positively teaches
that Mary conceived Jesus while still a virgin, without the intervention of man.

*********************************************************************************************
Source: “The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries”. Biblical text from the
Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries by members of
the Faculty of Theology, University of Navarre, Spain.

Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and
by Scepter Publishers in the United States.

[Salvation]

Now prayers intensify and the O Antiphons are placed on the Jesse trhee.

[Salvation]

Click on symbols to see the day.

O WISDOM December 17 Symbols: All-Seeing Eye and the Lamp Come, and teach us the way of prudence. O Wisdom, who came from the mouth of the Most High, reaching from end to end and ordering all things mightily and sweetly, Come, and teach us the way of prudence. O Sapientia, quae ex ore Altissimi prodiisti, attingens a fine usque ad finem fortiter, suaviterque disponens omnia: veni ad docendum nos viam prudentiae. The "all-seeing eye" represents the all-knowing and ever-present God. During the late Renaissance, the eye was pictured in a triangle with rays of light to represent the infinite holiness of the Trinity. The lamp is a symbol of wisdom taken from the parable of the wise and foolish virgins in Matthew 25. Recommended Readings: Proverbs 8:1-12

[Salvation]

Click on symbols to see the day.

O LORD AND RULER December 18 Symbols: The Tablets Come and redeem us with outstretched arm. O Lord and Ruler of the House of Israel, who appeared to Moses in the flame of the burning bush and gave him the law on Sinai: Come and redeem us with outstretched arm. O Adonai, et dux domus Israël, qui Moyse in igne flammae rubi apparuisti, et ei in Sina legem dedisti: veni ad redimendum nos in brachio extento. The tablets of stone are a picture of the Ten Commandments given by God to Moses on Mt. Sinai. They may be used to represent the whole of God's law, the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Bible, the Torah), or the entire Old Testament. Recommended Readings: Micheas 5:1-9

[Salvation]

Click on symbols to see the day.

O ROOT OF JESSE December 19 Symbols: Plant with Flower Come to deliver us, and tarry not. O Root of Jesse, who stands for an ensign of the people, before whom kings shall keep silence and unto whom the Gentiles shall make supplication: Come to deliver us, and tarry not. O Radix Jesse, qui stas in signum populorum, super quem continebunt reges os suum, quem gentes deprecabuntur: veni ad liberandum nos, jam noli tardare. The flower which springs up from the root of Jesse is another figure of Christ. Isaiah prophesied that the Savior would be born from the root of Jesse, that He would sit upon the throne of David, and in Christ this prophecy is fulfilled. Recommended Readings: Isaias 11:1-12

[Salvation]

Click on symbols to see the day.

O KEY OF DAVID December 20 Symbols: Key Come, and bring forth the captive from his prison. O Key of David, and Scepter of the House of Israel, who opens and no man shuts, who shuts and no man opens; Come and bring forth the captive from his prison, he who sits in darkness and in the shadow of death. O Clavis David, et sceptrum domus Israël, qui aperis, et nemo claudit, claudis, et nemo aperuit: veni, et educ vinctum de domo carceris, sedentem in tenebris, et umbra mortis. The key is the emblem of authority and power. Christ is the Key of the House of David who opens to us the full meaning of the scriptural prophecies, and reopens for all mankind the gate of Heaven. Recommended Readings: Isaias 22:22-25

[Salvation]

Sorry I did not get this posted yesterday.

Click on symbols to see the day.

O RADIANT DAWN December 21 Symbols: Sun with Rays Come, and shine on those seated in darkness, and in the shadow of death. O Dawn, splendor of eternal light, and sun of justice, come, and shine on those seated in darkness, and in the shadow of death. O Oriens, splendor lucis aeternae, et sol justitiae: veni, et illumina sedentes in tenebris, et umbra mortis. Just as the natural sun gives light and life to all upon whom its rays fall, so Christ, the Rising Dawn, dispels darkness and brings eternal life and light. Recommended Readings: Malachias 4:2-6

[Salvation]

Click on symbols to see the day.

O KING OF THE GENTILES December 22 Symbols: Crown and Scepter Come, and deliver man, whom You formed out of the dust of the earth. O King of the Gentiles and their desired One, the Cornerstone that makes both one; Come, and deliver man, whom You formed out of the dust of the earth. O Rex Gentium, et desideratus earum, lapisque angularis, qui facis utraque unum: veni, et salva hominem, quem de limo formasti. The crown and scepter signify Christ's universal kingship. As we sing in the fifth O Antiphon, Christ is not only the King of the Jewish nation, but the "Desired One of all," the cornerstone which unites both Jew and Gentile. Recommended Readings: Apocalypse 15:1-4

[Charles Henrickson]

This month I've had a series of sermons on the genealogy of Jesus Christ:

"The Genealogy of Jesus Christ: From Abraham to David" (Sermon on Matthew 1:1-6a)

"The Genealogy of Jesus Christ: From David to the Deportation" (Sermon on Matthew 1:1, 6b-11)

"The Genealogy of Jesus Christ: From the Deportation to the Christ" (Sermon on Matthew 1:1, 12-17)

"You Shall Call His Name Jesus" (Sermon for the Fourth Sunday in Advent), on Matthew 1:18-25

[Salvation]

Those are great. Thank you.

[Salvation]

Couldn't bring up the big display.

O Emmanuel (December 23) O Emmanuel (Isa 7: 14; 8: 8), our King and Lawgiver (Gen 49:10; cf. Ezek 21: 32), the Expected of the nations and their Savior (Isa 33: 22): Come, and save us, O Lord our God.

[Salvation]

Click on symbols to see the day.

O EMMANUEL December 23 Symbols: Manger Come to save us, O Lord our God. O Emmanuel, God with us, our King and Lawgiver, the expected of the nations and their Savior: Come to save us, O Lord our God. O Emmanuel, Rex et legifer noster, expectatio gentium, et Salvator earum: veni ad salvandum nos, Domine, Deus noster. The manger reminds us of the simplicity and poverty surrounding the birth of Jesus and is representative of His life of humility. Recommended Readings: Isaias 9:2-7

[Salvation]

This is a wonderful activity to replace an Advent calendar if your family would like to do something different.

Consider it! Our priest did one several years ago in church and there was a lot of learning about why certain names and events were mentioned.

Have a prayerful and holy Advent.

[Salvation]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/religion/1030905/posts?page=40#40

Beautiful pictures — already in color on that thread.