Genesis 49:2, 8-10 / Matthew 1:1-17
We may wonder why today, the 17th December, the readings are diverted from the 3rd week of Advent to the specified readings for today and right till the 24th December.
Well, if we do a bit of counting, then we will see that today till Christmas eve is a total of eight days.
This period of time is called the "octave before Christmas". Certainly it means that the preparation for Christmas has entered into a more intensified period, spiritually of course, and maybe materially too.
Of interest are the titles used in the gospel acclamation for each day. Today in the gospel acclamation, Jesus is addressed as "Wisdom of the Most High".
This intensified period of preparation is to help us to remember and to be aware of the celebration we are preparing for.
In the gospel, we heard of the genealogy of Jesus, from Abraham right down to Joseph. We remember how the promise of God was passed on from generation to generation, with its twists and turns, the straight and the crooked, glory and exile.
Yet through it all, the promise of God has prevailed and finally fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Yes, we must remember that God kept His promise from age to age.
When we remember that, then we become aware of what we are preparing to celebrate - the presence of God among us, the Emmanuel.
And with that we also celebrate our hope that one day we will be with Him in eternity.
God came to be with man so that man can be with God. Let us remember that and celebrate and strengthen our hope in His promise.