“Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace forever.” –   PS 72: 7

 

Today’s readings help understand where we can go from what we learn from history.  We can fulfill God’s Promise of Everlasting Life if we come to understand and therefore, appreciate all God has revealed to us in Sacred Scripture, Sacred Tradition and the teachings of the Magisterium, the teaching authority of the Roman Catholic Church.  This defines Faith.  Remember that Jesus promised how He would build what He must call His Church, with Peter as the Rock, the foundation.  This promise meant that the strength and plots of the devil and his fallen angels shall not prevail against the Faithful, the Church. So, with Hope, the desire for Heaven, by living our Faith, and with Free Will, we can achieve the promises God has made from the beginning of the world.

God works through people, lots of them, including us. Today’s readings make this clear. The line of Jesus, our Messiah, is traced through the tribe of Judah, and the Gospel Genealogy of St Matthew today traces the lineage. Despite the sinfulness and shame of the descendants of Judah, the Divine Healer entered this family lineage to redeem the sinful and heal the sick.  The Genealogy shows that God truly became man. Jesus is one of us in all things but sin. He lived among us. God fulfills His promise as Jesus has redeemed the human family tree. St Paul would say, “He is not ashamed to call us brothers and sisters.” (Heb 2:11) Jesus loves us and the Father loves us, and the Holy Spirit unites us in that love.

Jesus is the fulfillment of all God's promises.  When Jacob blessed his sons, he foretold that Judah would receive the promise of royalty which we see fulfilled in David. We can also see in this blessing a foreshadowing of God's fulfillment in raising up His anointed King, Jesus, the Savior of the world. Jesus is the Hope not only for the people of the Old Covenant but for all nations, including us and our descendants as well. He is the Messiah who redeems us from slavery to sin and Satan while allowing us the opportunity to be citizens of the Kingdom of God. In Jesus we receive adoption into a Royal Priesthood and Holy Nation as sons and daughters of the living God. At Baptism, and at subsequent times after we make promises to God.  Are we fulfilling them as God has repeatedly done for us?  Do we appreciate that every promise God has made, He has kept?  Do we recognize our spiritual genealogy comes from those promises?  Do we keep our promises by not just accepting God as our Father and Jesus as Lord of our life but actually live our lives that way?

"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 wise rule and care."

 

May God’s Grace and Blessings Always be with you and yours!!  Our Lady of Guadalupe – Pray for us!!  

 

Yours in Christ, 

Deacon Bob

St. Clare of Assisi Catholic Church

Houston, TX