This Advent, we are following the series Generation to Generation from Sanctified Art. Recalling Mary’s words in the Magnificat:
Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
God’s mercy is for those who fear God from generation to generation. (Luke 1:48b, 50)
On Sunday we’re going to do a little genealogical review. I know, probably not what you come seeking in worship. But apparently Matthew thought it was the best way to begin the story of Jesus. It goes through three sets of 14 generations taking us from Abraham to Jesus. We’ll read all the names out loud, with a little matrilineage thrown in (Matthew 1:1-17).
Matthew thought it was important to know who Jesus’ people were: Where did he come from? From what stock did this e’er-blooming rose arise? There are some names in there we may not know. There are some heroes and some rascals, some saints and sinners.
I wonder how many of us know our genealogies. With the rise of ancestry.com, 23andme and Henry Louis Gates’ PBS series Finding Your Roots, some of us have gotten the genealogy fever. We’ve sent in our DNA samples, started tracing our family trees and begun to wonder about the heretofore-unknown discoveries we can dig up and find in our roots. What secrets have been hidden from us? What do they say about us now?
On Sunday, we’ll sing “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” again, we’ll dig around in our ancestral roots, both spiritual and biological, and ponder together what this means for us, as we carry forth this ancient story from generation to generation. Come and live it together.
In faith,
Kent
Advent Worship Series: Generation to Generation
Advent 1: November 27, There’s room for every story (Matthew 1:1-17, Isaiah 2:1-5)
Advent 2: December 4, God Meets Us in Our Fear (Luke 1:26-38, Isaiah 11:1-10)
Advent 3: December 11, We Can Choose a Better Way (Matthew 1:18-25, Isaiah 35:1-10)
Advent 4: December 18, We See God in Each Other (Luke 1:39-45; 56-58, Luke 1:46-55)
Christmas Day: December 25, Zoom Worship and Fellowship, 11am
Image credit: Geneology of Christ, by Rev. Lauren Wright Pittman © a sanctified art | sanctifiedart.org
