12/17/2025 (Wednesday) Today’s Gospel reading: Matthew 1:1-17
1 The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
2 Abraham became the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers.
3 Judah became the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar. Perez became the father of Hezron, Hezron the father of Ram,
4 Ram the father of Amminadab. Amminadab became the father of Nahshon, Nahshon the father of Salmon,
5 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,
6 Jesse the father of David the king. David became the father of Solomon, whose mother had been the wife of Uriah.
7 Solomon became the father of Rehoboam, Rehoboam the father of Abijah,
Abijah the father of Asaph.
8 Asaph became the father of Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat the father of Joram,
Joram the father of Uzziah.
9 Uzziah became the father of Jotham, Jotham the father of Ahaz, Ahaz the father of Hezekiah.
10 Hezekiah became the father of Manasseh, Manasseh the father of Amos, Amos the father of Josiah.
11 Josiah became the father of Jechoniah and his brothers at the time of the Babylonian exile.
12 After the Babylonian exile, Jechoniah became the father of Shealtiel, Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel,
13 Zerubbabel the father of Abiud. Abiud became the father of Eliakim, Eliakim the father of Azor,
14 Azor the father of Zadok. Zadok became the father of Achim, Achim the father of Eliud,
15 Eliud the father of Eleazar. Eleazar became the father of Matthan, Matthan the father of Jacob,
16 Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary. Of her was born Jesus who is called the Christ.
17 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.
12/17/2025 (Wednesday) Today’s Gospel reflection / homily / sermon: Matthew 1:1-17
At first glance, the genealogy found in Matthew 1:1–17 may seem like a long list of names—generations passing, families growing, and history unfolding. But beneath these names lies a profound message: God works through imperfect people, unexpected situations, and long, winding timelines to fulfill His beautiful purpose.
This passage reminds us that God’s plan is never rushed. It unfolds gradually, often across seasons and generations. When we feel impatient with life—when our dreams take longer than expected, or when our paths seem unclear—it helps to remember that God is never hurried but always on time. The lineage of Jesus is proof that His promises may take years to unfold, yet they are always fulfilled with precision and love.
Look at the kind of people included in this genealogy. There were kings, but there were also ordinary individuals. There were faithful servants, but also those who made serious mistakes. There were men and women whose stories were marked by struggle, shame, or painful pasts. Yet God wove all these lives together to prepare the way for salvation. This truth speaks powerfully to us today: your story—no matter how broken or imperfect—has a place in God’s grand design.
Think about individuals like Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and Bathsheba, women with complicated stories, each marked by pain or social stigma. Yet God honored them by giving them a place in the lineage of His Son. Through them, He showed that no one is excluded from His plan. He can transform every story, whether wounded, messy, or forgotten—into a channel of grace.
This gives hope to anyone who feels defined by past mistakes or failures. God does not erase your story; He redeems it. He does not reject your imperfections; He uses them as pathways for His mercy. If He can work through generations of flawed, ordinary people to bring forth the Savior, then He can also work through you—right where you are.
The genealogy also teaches us that faithfulness can echo through time. Each person, whether famous or unknown, contributed to God’s plan by simply living out their part. In the same way, your acts of kindness, your quiet perseverance, your small steps of faith, these matter a lot. You may not see their impact today, but God weaves them into a story larger than you can imagine.
Consider a parent who raises their children with love and integrity, even when life is difficult. Or a worker who chooses honesty in a world full of shortcuts. Or a young person who holds on to faith despite pressures and doubts. These choices may seem ordinary, but they plant seeds that future generations may harvest.
Finally, Matthew’s genealogy proclaims one powerful truth: God keeps His promises. Across centuries, through triumphs and failures, faithfulness and rebellion, His plan moved forward. Nothing stopped His purpose. Not human weakness. Not sin. Not history. Not time.
If God remained faithful through forty-two generations to bring forth Jesus, He will remain faithful in your life as well. No season is wasted. No chapter is forgotten. No struggle is unseen. Your life is part of a bigger story, one that God is lovingly writing.
The Gospel reading invites us to trust that God is at work, slowly, gently, faithfully weaving our lives into His eternal plan. And when we place our story in His hands, even the most ordinary beginnings can lead to extraordinary grace.
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