David Became The Father

The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Abraham became the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers. Judah became the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar. 

Perez became the father of Hezron, Hezron the father of Ram, Ram the father of Amminadab. Amminadab became the father of Nahshon, Nahshon the father of Salmon, 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, Jesse the father of David the king. David became the father of Solomon, whose mother had been the wife of Uriah. 

Solomon became the father of Rehoboam, Rehoboam the father of Abijah, Abijah the father of Asaph. Asaph became the father of Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, Joram the father of Uzziah.  Uzziah became the father of Jotham, Jotham the father of Ahaz, Ahaz the father of Hezekiah. Hezekiah became the father of Manasseh, Manasseh the father of Amos, Amos the father of Josiah. Josiah became the father of Jechoniah and his brothers at the time of the Babylonian exile. After the Babylonian exile, Jechoniah became the father of Shealtiel, Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel, Zerubbabel the father of Abiud. Abiud became the father of Eliakim, Eliakim the father of Azor, Azor the father of Zadok.  Zadok became the father of Achim, Achim the father of Eliud, Eliud the father of Eleazar.  Eleazar became the father of Matthan, Matthan the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary. 

Of her was born Jesus who is called the Christ. 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. (Matthew 1:1-17)

Among all these many men in this genealogy, Matthew lists five women: Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba (wife of Uriah), and Mary.  The consensus opinion is there was something extraordinary or irregular in their marital unions.  Also, they showed initiative and played an important role in God’s plan.  

Megan McKenna in her 1994 book Not Counting Women and Children: Neglected Stories From the Bible, said it best: “It seems that Jesus’ ancestors have not been uniformly neat, orderly, clean, honorable, or ordinary – like most people’s ancestors.  Jesus is born with the blood of these men and women in his veins.  These women all fought for life, for children, for the continuation of hope for generations, even if they did so in unorthodox ways.  

And they are all connected to Mary because her own giving birth and the circumstances around the conception and bearing of Jesus are shady and shadowed and not normal.  Jesus is a son  of Abraham and David through Joseph, but he also a son of Mary and many remarkable women who were feisty enough to make sure they and their children, even the unborn, would be a part of the promise.

Mary, like many of these women, took risks.  Tamar, Rehab, Ruth, Bathsheba, and Mary are memorable, worth wondering over, studying, and imitating.  Mary is a new Tamar, a new Rehab, a new Ruth, a new Bathsheba, and a new woman in relationship to Joseph, a new and just man.  Men and women become holy, become free, become something altogether new because of this child, this one child whom all the world, and all of history has awaited.”

Most of us never really have understood why we read this long genealogy every year about this time.  In fact, deacons usually are instructed to use an alternative reading during Mass because the list of names provides no understandable message to parishioners.  Nevertheless, it is important to focus on the women and then to use them as examples for our behavior.  

No matter what our situation, we are to overcome our difficulties through trust in God and our own initiative.  Moreover, we are to be courageous and hopeful that when our children and their children look back at their ancestors, they will find our names and understand/appreciate their linkage to us and the genes we have passed on.  For me, I anticipate part of my sons' genealogy will read: "David, the husband of Diane, became the father of Michael and Jonathan, Michael and Jonathan the fathers of Luke, Betsy, Melina, and Evelyn."

Deacon David Pierce