Genesis 49:2, 8-10 / Matthew 1:1-17
We can divide our lives into three general categories.
One category can be called moments of greatness, the other category can be called moments of weakness and the last can be called moments of grace.
Moments of grace are instances when we experience the hand of God moving profoundly in our lives.
The history of Israel may also be divided into these three categories and we can see it in the genealogy that is presented in the gospel.
From Abraham to David, it was an era that was filled with moments of greatness, with Israel becoming the Chosen People of God and developing into a great and mighty nation.
The second era, from David to the Babylonian exile recalls Israel's fall from greatness. It was also about how Israel turned away from God and turned to sin.
The third era, from the Babylonian exile to Jesus, recalls God's promises to Israel and its fulfillment in Jesus, who is the fullness of grace.
It is this moment that we are preparing to celebrate - a time of grace, a time of restoration, a time of re-creation.
We had our moments of greatness and our moments of weakness.
What we need is to live our days in God’s grace.
It is a time to witness to the world that because of Jesus, we can lift our heads and our hearts and take pride in being the chosen people of God.