Second Gift

'The genealogy of Jesus Christ'

Gospel                                              Mt 1:1-17

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. 

Judah became the father of Perez and Zerah,

whose mother was Tamar. 

Perez became the father of Hezron,

Hezron the father of Ram,

Ram the father of Amminadab. 

Amminadab became the father of Nahshon,

Nahshon the father of Salmon,

Salmon the father of Boaz,

whose mother was Rahab. 

Boaz became the father of Obed,

whose mother was Ruth. 

Obed became the father of Jesse,

Jesse the father of David the king.

David became the father of Solomon,

whose mother had been the wife of Uriah. 

Solomon became the father of Rehoboam,

Rehoboam the father of Abijah,

Abijah the father of Asaph. 

Asaph became the father of Jehoshaphat,

Jehoshaphat the father of Joram,

Joram the father of Uzziah. 

Uzziah became the father of Jotham,

Jotham the father of Ahaz,

Ahaz the father of Hezekiah. 

Hezekiah became the father of Manasseh,

Manasseh the father of Amos,

Amos the father of Josiah.

Josiah became the father of Jechoniah and his brothers

at the time of the Babylonian exile.

After the Babylonian exile,

Jechoniah became the father of Shealtiel,

Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel,

Zerubbabel the father of Abiud. 

Abiud became the father of Eliakim,

Eliakim the father of Azor,

Azor the father of Zadok. 

Zadok became the father of Achim,

Achim the father of Eliud,

Eliud the father of Eleazar. 

Eleazar became the father of Matthan,

Matthan the father of Jacob,

Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary. 

Of her was born Jesus who is called the Christ.

Thus the total number of generations

from Abraham to David

is fourteen generations;

from David to the Babylonian exile, fourteen generations;

from the Babylonian exile to the Christ,

fourteen generations.

The Gift of Trust and Openness: Embracing God's Plan

by Bro Carlo Alexis Malaluan

Do you know your grandparents? Or your great-grandparents? Or the people who have came before them? I think, for some of us it would be an impossible task! When we open the Gospel of Matthew, we’re greeted not with a grand miracle or a parable, but with a genealogy—a long list of names tracing Jesus’ family tree. At first glance, it might seem unremarkable, even tedious. But if we pause and take a closer look, we’ll see that this passage is full of beauty, hope, and the unmistakable hand of God. 

The genealogy reminds us that God is faithful. It starts with Abraham, the one to whom God promised, “Through your descendants, all nations will be blessed.” It moves to David, to whom God said, “Your house and your kingdom will endure forever.” And here, in Jesus, those promises find their fulfillment. When God makes a promise, He doesn’t forget it, even if it takes centuries to unfold. 

What makes this family tree even more fascinating are the people included in it. Matthew doesn’t just mention kings and patriarchs; he highlights people whose stories were messy, even scandalous. There’s Tamar, who secured her place in the line of Judah through an act of boldness many would consider questionable. Rahab was a foreigner and a prostitute, but her faith saved her and her family. Ruth was a Moabite widow, an outsider, who became the great-grandmother of King David. Bathsheba, though her name isn’t mentioned directly, reminds us of the sins and struggles of David’s reign. 

Why would Matthew include these stories? Because they show us that God’s plan is for everyone—saints and sinners, men and women, insiders and outsiders. It’s a reminder that no one is beyond God’s reach, and no story is too broken for Him to redeem. There is a place for all in the heart of God! 

As we follow this family tree, we also see the journey of God’s people. There are moments of triumph, like David’s reign, and moments of tragedy, like the exile to Babylon. Yet, through it all, God was quietly, faithfully preparing the way for Jesus. Isn’t that how God often works in our lives? We might not always see it in the moment, but He’s weaving together the highs and lows, the joys and struggles, to bring about something beautiful – to the fullness of His divine plan. This passage isn’t just about Jesus’ family—it’s about us, too. If God could use the brokenness and imperfections of those in Jesus’ lineage, He can surely use us. We’re invited to be part of this story, to let God work through our lives, no matter how ordinary or messy they may seem.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, As we prepare to celebrate Your birth, we offer You the gift of trust, knowing You work through all things for good. Open our hearts to welcome You fully, just as You came to dwell among us. May our lives reflect the faith and openness of those who awaited You. Amen.

Gift for Jesus

As we reflect on the genealogy of Jesus, one gift we can offer Him is the gift of trust. The family tree in Matthew reminds us that God is faithful to His promises, even when His plan takes time to unfold. In our own lives, we often struggle with doubt when we don’t see immediate answers to our prayers or when life takes an unexpected turn. By entrusting our lives to Him—our dreams, fears, and even our brokenness—we honor Him as the God who works all things for good. Trust is a gift that acknowledges His sovereignty and His ability to bring beauty out of chaos.

Another gift we can offer is the gift of openness. Trust requires openness and in openness, trust became fully active. The stories of Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and Bathsheba show us that God’s grace is inclusive, reaching into places we might least expect. This Christmas, we are invited to open our hearts to His transforming grace and to see others through the same merciful lens. We can offer Jesus the gift of welcoming His will into every aspect of our lives and embracing the people He places before us, no matter how different or challenging they may seem. Such openness reflects the very heart of the Savior who came to seek and save the lost.

Take a moment to think about your own story. Where do you see God’s hand at work? Are there parts of your life you think are too small or too broken for Him? Do you consider it a stumbling block or a gift? This genealogy reminds us that God’s grace can transform anything, and His plans are always bigger and better than we can imagine.

Bro Carlo Alexis Malaluan  is a native of Cavite, Philippines. He is currently studying Ecclesiastical Theology in the University of Navarre, Pamplona, Spain. He is a seminarian for the Diocese of Imus