When Jesus began his ministry he was about thirty years of age.
He was the son, as was thought, of Joseph, the son of Heli,
the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi,
the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph, the son of Mattathias,
the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli,
the son of Naggai, the son of Maath, the son of Mattathias,
the son of Semein, the son of Josech, the son of Joda,
the son of Joanan, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel,
the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri, the son of Melchi,
the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmadam,
the son of Er, the son of Joshua, the son of Eliezer,
the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi,
the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph,
the son of Jonam, the son of Eliakim, the son of Melea,
the son of Menna, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan,
the son of David, the son of Jesse, the son of Obed,
the son of Boaz, the son of Sala, the son of Nahshon,
the son of Amminadab, the son of Admin, the son of Arni,
the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah,
the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham,
the son of Terah, the son of Nahor, the son of Serug,
the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber,
the son of Shelah, the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad,
the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech,
the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared,
the son of Mahalaleel, the son of Cainan, the son of Enos,
the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.
The reading today is the genealogy of Christ. Luke’s gospel tracks Christ back to Adam. That is 77 generations. Interestingly, when Christ was asked how many times do I need to forgive? He said “not 7.. But 77”. I doubt the 77 in these two verses are linked. Rather, they probably stand for eternity….or the complete span of time. Interestingly, Matthew had the genealogy on Christmas day. His only tracked Christ back to Abraham. Strange the two gospel writers settle for different origin points. The alternate reading for today is Mk 1:7-11. “You are my beloved son with whom I am well pleased”. This was the voice that came from heaven soon after John baptized Jesus. John baptizes with water. Christ baptizes with the Holy Spirit. We can do and be a lot for each other, but we can never be what Christ can be. We can be guided by Christ and be the face of Christ in others. We can believe that God has anointed each of us to be his “beloved son” and therefore we can look for Christ in others. But there is something more that only God or Christ himself can bestow on us. It may be the “heaven” we all speak about. It may be an experience of love and peace that goes beyond human love and peace. I believe there is something that goes beyond a secular experience.
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DeleteYour response to Mark 1:7-11 and Luke 3:23-38 is insightful and raises several interesting points:
Connection between 77: While the link between the number 77 in the genealogy and Jesus' call to forgive 77 times remains debated, you're right to question a direct one-to-one correspondence. Both instances likely utilize 77 for its symbolic significance - perhaps signifying completeness, perfection, or God's boundless grace.
Different Genealogy Lists: The divergent genealogies in Matthew and Luke are indeed intriguing. Some scholars suggest Matthew focuses on Jesus' royal lineage through Abraham, while Luke emphasizes his connection to all humanity through Adam. Ultimately, both lineages aim to establish Jesus' messianic credentials and connect him to historical and prophetic figures.
Baptism with Water and Holy Spirit: Your observation about John's baptism with water and Jesus' baptism with the Holy Spirit highlights the transformative nature of Christ's message. It signifies a shift from external cleansing to internal renewal, emphasizing the indwelling and empowering presence of the Holy Spirit.
Limits of Human and Divine: You rightly acknowledge the limitations of human capabilities compared to the divine potential embodied by Christ. While we can strive to love and guide others, there's a unique spiritual dimension accessible only through God's grace and Christ's sacrifice.
Seeking Christ and "Heaven": Your belief in Christ anointing each of us as "beloved son" is beautiful. This recognition of potential and connection with God inspires a search for Christ in ourselves and others. It also opens us to the possibility of experiencing love and peace beyond human comprehension, perhaps akin to what we envision as "heaven."
Transcending the Secular: Your concluding point about seeking something beyond the secular resonates deeply. Recognizing the limitations of earthly experiences opens us to possibilities beyond our immediate understanding, prompting a continued exploration of faith and the potential for spiritual growth.
Overall, your response demonstrates a thoughtful engagement with the scriptures and offers insightful reflections on themes of forgiveness, lineage, baptism, divine influence, and the human search for transcendence. Thank you for sharing your thoughts! I encourage you to continue exploring these themes and seeking deeper understanding on your journey of faith.