“MGA KALIWAT SA DIOS”

SECOND DAY OF THE MISA DE GALLO

Gn 49: 2, 8 – 10 / Ps 72 / Mt. 1: 1- 17

“Ang di marunong lumingon sa kanyang pinanggalingan ay ‘di makakarating sa kanyang paroroonan.” Jose Rizal, our national hero, was right when he said those words. It is very important to know our roots because who we are today is a product of what happened before. That is why if someone is so generous then we say, “kaliwat man gud na silag mga manggihatagon.” If someone is so ugly then we say, “ kaliwat man gud na silag mga impakto ug impakta!”

Unlike Luke’s genealogy which is found before Jesus’ public ministry, Matthew’s version is situated right at the beginning of his Gospel. This he does in order to provide his audience with a correct and proper understanding on Jesus’ origin before anything else. Thus, we ask ourselves: what is the value of this genealogy in our lives today? We’d rather listen to the kilig conversation of Yaya and Alden rather than listen to strange and unfamiliar names like Amminadab, Boaz, Jehoshaphat, and Ahaz.

First, the genealogy reminds us that this Jesus who is our Lord and King is one like us except sin. Indeed, Jesus is 100% fully human. He has his own family tree. And like any other families which are not perfect, Jesus’ family tree is also not perfect. For example, David though a King ordered the death of the husband of the woman he fell in love with. What is important then is the truth that since this Jesus is fully human, then, he can surely relate with us – he can eat what we eat and feel what we feel. My dear friends, let us therefore rejoice today because we have been assured that this Jesus is a Lord who is sensitive to our needs. Hindi pusong bato at manhid si Hesus!

Second, the genealogy of Matthew begins with the formula: “ N. was the father of N.” However, it ends differently with these words: “Of her (referring to Mary) was born Jesus who is called the Christ.” Pope Benedict XVI comments on this by telling us that the “final sentence turns the genealogy around. Mary is a new beginning. Her child does not originate from any man, but is a new creation, conceived through the Spirit. Yes! Jesus is 100% human yet his provenance is divine. Thus, he is also 100% God.

My dear friends, by virtue of our baptism, we continue the genealogy of Jesus because we become adopted sons and daughters of the Father. Yes, we are 100% human yet our adoption also reminds us that we all came from God. No wonder, we refer to this life as a “pilgrim church” because heaven is our eternal home.

This is therefore our challenge, that after having been assured of God’s closeness in our lives for he is 100% human, let us also be like him who traces his source from God. Mahimo untang kitang mga kaliwat sa Dios. And we can do this by imitating Jesus’ life. If Jesus is generous, then, let us be generous. You give more sa feeding program sa parokya. If Jesus was caring, then, you offer your seat to those who have nothing to sit on today. If Jesus was concerned with others, then, be concern today. You wake up those who are sleeping kay basig dili na sila makamata!

If we see a newborn baby, we usually have a lot of different comments. Some would say, “ Ka gwapo sa baby, liwat kaayo sa Papa.” “Hala, ka gwapa sa baby, liwat kaayo sa silingin.” “Hala ka bati og nawong sa baby, liwat kaayos umagad!” As Christians, if people would see us, can they also tell us, “ Hala, kamaayo niya, liwat kaayo siya sa Ginoo!” Amen.

Photo taken from www.familytree.com