Today is what is called the “Sunday of the Genealogy” in Eastern Orthodoxy. Today is the Sunday before Christmas, the Sunday in which we read the genealogy of Christ from the Gospel according to Matthew. We are not the only ones who read one of the genealogies before Christmas. More than one Christian group does. So, why do we read the genealogy?
Well, I have read many reasons:
1. Saint Matthew wanted to emphasize that Jesus was definitely descended from royal lineage and had the right to the Davidic throne. He is called the Son of David in the first verse.
2. Saint Matthew wanted to emphasize that Jesus was a full son of the covenant, notice that he is called both the Son of David and the Son of Abraham in the first verse. That is, Jesus is as fully Jewish as any other Jew.
3. Saint Matthew wanted to point out that Jesus was a full Son of God by the Holy Spirit. In verse 18, it says that after His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit.
4. Saint Matthew wanted to emphasize that God had been equally at work in all the previous historical epochs of human existence. He indicated this by deliberately listing only fourteen names per epoch, despite the fact that some of the epochs have more than fourteen names. He divides the genealogy into three groups of fourteen generations, separated by important historic points. The three divisions of Matthew’s genealogy are:
a. Abraham to the reign of King David (Matthew 1:2-6).
b. David’s kingdom to the Babylonian captivity (Matthew 1:6-11).
c. Release from Babylonian captivity to Christ (Matthew 1:12-16).
I suppose that we will find out what Saint Matthew intended sometime in the future. In the meantime, the genealogy makes us consider how God has been at work in history. This is important because there are times when it appears as though God has not been at work in our personal lives. The genealogy reminds us that God does have a long term plan. All too many times, I need to hear that. All too often my doubts creep up and try to overwhelm me. At those times, the genealogy reassures me that God is in control.
Now that is a rather personal explanation for the genealogy. All the four reasons given above are absolutely true. But, that is my personal application for myself, and a helpful one at that. What is your personal application for the genealogy?
Much like what happens to the Reader at vespers for the Fathers of Nicaea (Cherdolaomer!), this is to make sure the deacon doesn’t get too complacent about his ability to pronounce names correctly. (:
Since I do my own genealogy I feel strongly about genealogies. It helps to know where you come from—and to know where Jesus comes from….well–the idea of the “begats” makes sense to me–it says here is the human side of Jesus–he came from these people–he had a history–he has a place here that is human just like the rest of us.
ALix