Dec 17, 2008 - Pangalawang Simbang Gabi. We ate our dinner (daing na bangus with sauted sayote and carrots - yummy!) before going to Mass. Manny needed to pick us (Nicole and me) up first at Robinson's Dasma around 6pm because we shopped for Nicole's custome. She will have a Cinderella play in school and mommy bought her, her own pair of pink tights and leotards, and a pink doll shoes. Well, it's nice to feel the coldness of the night breeze as we draw close to Christmas day. Masarap magsimba kasama ang buong pamilya.... that's how the Lord wants it to be. Here's the gospel, on our nine-day journey... - Nance
"The genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David"
Scripture: Matthew 1:1-17
1 The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. 2 Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, 3 and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram, 4 and Ram the father of Ammin'adab, and Ammin'adab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon, 5 and Salmon the father of Bo'az by Rahab, and Bo'az the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, 6 and Jesse the father of David the king. And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uri'ah, 7 and Solomon the father of Rehobo'am, and Rehobo'am the father of Abi'jah, and Abi'jah the father of Asa, 8 and Asa the father of Jehosh'aphat, and Jehosh'aphat the father of Joram, and Joram the father of Uzzi'ah, 9 and Uzzi'ah the father of Jotham, and Jotham the father of Ahaz, and Ahaz the father of Hezeki'ah, 10 and Hezeki'ah the father of Manas'seh, and Manas'seh the father of Amos, and Amos the father of Josi'ah, 11 and Josi'ah the father of Jechoniah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon. 12 And after the deportation to Babylon: Jechoni'ah was the father of She-al'ti-el, and She-al'ti-el the father of Zerub'babel, 13 and Zerub'babel the father of Abi'ud, and Abi'ud the father of Eli'akim, and Eli'akim the father of Azor, 14 and Azor the father of Zadok, and Zadok the father of Achim, and Achim the father of Eli'ud, 15 and Eli'ud the father of Elea'zar, and Elea'zar the father of Matthan, and Matthan the father of Jacob, 16 and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ. 17 So all the generations from Abraham to David were fourteen generations, and from David to the deportation to Babylon fourteen generations, and from the deportation to Babylon to the Christ fourteen generations.
Meditation: I wonder why Matthew felt it necessary to narrate the many generations from which Jesus descended. Bakit nga ba? I think one of the reasons is to demonstrate that God has plan all along and it never ceases to stop - it overrides our mortality, generation after generation. God has a plan for each and everyone of us.
To start the homily, Father Ogie said " How many of you men would opt to marry a virgin?" Well, of course. If we would have the opportunity or control all the time, who would not want to marry one. But for the case of Joseph, yes Joseph, as in Mary and Joseph. How much harder can it be when Joseph knew that his love will bear a child that is not his own? Joseph even planned to separate from Mary in silence - to avoid ridicule or shame may be. But God has His plans. Joseph accepted this truth and followed the Lord's plans. I do not know how or where Joseph got the strength and faith to carry on with the things he had at hand. But I am very sure, God "extends" our own selves when we have reached our own weakness or limits.
Father Ogie said that Joseph is a great example of how the power of God works in our lives. If Joseph relied on himself alone, maybe it would be a different Christmas story.
God works best when we admit our own weakness. And when we receive the Lord, everything goes with it - His power, His strength, His mercy, His faith - everything. We become connected to our Father, Jesus our Brother. We just need to acknowledge, and believe that we have received it.
How well do you know your spiritual heritage? Genealogies are very important. They give us our roots and help us to understand our heritage.
I knew that from my own life's account. From the beginning of time, He knew I would love Him but not to deep, just on the sideline, just a plain acquaintance from Sunday Mass, how other people talk about Him, etc.... He knew I would stray, and be contented with what the "world" has to offer - a good childhood, a good career, a good family, blessed with kids..and a lot, lot more of blessings. He knew I would need to realize I am still lost. He knew I would need saving. He knew the struggles I would go through, as well as every triumph. He knew my dreams, the ones I treasure in my life, my joys, my hurts and my weakness.
In fact, sometimes I feel He knows me more than I know myself. Every tear and every moment of laughter. He knew every minute. Every moment. Including this one right now. As Christmas approaches, may His saving love be born in our hearts. May His eternal plan for each of us unfold even more as we experience the wonder of His glory through Jesus Christ our Savior.
Jesus is the fulfillment of all God's promises. He is the hope not only for the people of the Old Covenant but for all nations as well. He is the Savior of the world. In him we receive adoption into a royal priesthood and holy nation as sons and daughters of the living God (see 1 Peter 1:9). Do you recognize your spiritual genealogy and do you accept God as your Father and Jesus as the sovereign King and Lord of your life?
"Lord Jesus Christ, you are the Messiah and Savior of the world, the hope of Israel and the hope of the nations. Be the ruler of my heart and the king of my home. May there be nothing in my life that is not under your kingship."
- Nancy Martin, Schwager
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