Advent through Christmas -- 2007
Monday, December 17, Fourth Week in Advent
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…Matthew 1:-17
These are the opening words of Matthew’s Gospel. He begins with the basics – the genealogy of Jesus. It will be a long list of 48 names stretching across 2,000 years.
Matthew wants to emphasize that Jesus is the Messiah, the long-awaited “Son of David” who would fulfill Old Testament prophecies. That’s why he works downward from Abraham through David, to Jesus. Luke in his genealogy starts with Jesus and works upward to Adam. He wants to emphasize that Jesus is the Son of God.
Both Matthew and Luke drew upon popular traditions (rather than written records,) and both adapted the data. They are trying to establish Jesus’ theological identity, not his DNA.
The list of names in Jesus’ genealogy includes a wide variety of people not all of them perfect by any means. Jesus’ family had some skeletons in the closet. Probably your family is no different. They’re still your family.
We are about a week away from Christmas. This would be a good time to mend some family ties.
Spend some quiet time with the Lord.
Advent through Christmas – 2007-2008
Tuesday, December 18, Fourth Week in Advent
Angels
Angels play a significant role in the Christmas story of both Matthew and Luke
Belief in angels is rooted in Jewish tradition, which regarded angels as manifestations of God’s presence.
Jewish belief in angels went beyond the Scriptures and spoke of choirs (i.e. groups) of angels (a concept not found in Scripture) and names of angels. In Scripture only three names are given – Michael, Gabriel, Raphael.
The Christian tradition has retained a strong belief in angels. The New Testament has more than twice as many references to angels as the Old Testament. However, in the Gospels, angels appear and speak only in the Infancy Narrative and at the empty tomb.
The Church has made few pronouncements about angels. It teaches that angels are created beings (not mini-gods)…that they are personal (not simply “forces”)…and that they do not have a material body (though when necessary they can appear in a human form.)
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The word “angel” is a Greek translation of a Hebrew word meaning “messenger.”
