Saturday 7 December - Approach God with Freedom

Readings

Genesis 49:2,8-10, Psalm 18, Matthew 1:1-17 and Ephesians 3:1-21

I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power.  Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ,  and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things.  His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the  heavenly realms,  according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.  In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.  I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory. Ephesians 3:1-21

Reflection

Do you know your family history? What do you know about other family members? How far back can you go in your thoughts?

Every time a genealogy appears in scripture, it’s meant to tell us something important about the person at the end of the line, the ultimate member, in this case, Jesus.

Genealogies point to character, but they also speak of something deeper. To know one’s roots is to be able to live in connection to the past as well as the present. In the ancient world connection with one’s ancestors is incredibly important because they were fascinated with beginnings. Through his genealogy, Jesus embraces all those people who came before him. He is the product of all these souls, whoever they may be. Their struggles tell us something about what Jesus himself will face. Jesus’ genealogy is complex and when examined closely reveals a comprehensive list of people whose lives are scarred because they have sinned and scarred because they have also been offended against.  What of Jeconiah? or Eliakim? these names lead through exile, turbulent times, heartache and each name in the genealogy has meaning because each is part of the story and now we are part of this story. From what comes as rootedness now becomes openness as we are linked with a Jewish history that now leads us into the world—”For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son.”

Prayer

Lord, as I look at my past forgive me for not moving forward in my faith.

Inspire me to live in such a way that my choices each day and my commitment to live in a positive way may transform the negative into something positive, and the ordinariness of daily life into something  extraordinary. Amen.