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Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - If we look at Jesus’ genealogy as described in the Gospel of Matthew, we notice "the presence of foreign women" because, as Benedict XVI wrote, "through them the world of the Gentiles ... enters Jesus’ genealogy - his mission to the Jews and pagans becomes visible".
This was what Pope Francis recalled this morning during the general audience in the "Paul VI Hall" in front of thousands of pilgrims. After concluding his catechesis on the Holy Spirit, the Pope began a new cycle with the theme "Jesus Christ, our hope", which will run throughout the coming Holy Year. In doing so, he also recalls the theme chosen for the Holy Year, "Pilgrims of Hope". Christ, explained the Bishop of Rome in introducing the catechesis, "is in fact the goal of our pilgrimage and he himself is the way, the way we must follow."
The first part will deal with the childhood of Jesus, which is told in the Gospels of Luke and Matthew. "The difference between the two evangelists is that Luke tells the events from Mary’s point of view, while Matthew describes them from Joseph’s point of view and insists on such an unusual fatherhood," stressed the Pope, who focuses on the Gospel of Matthew, which opens the entire canon of the New Testament with the "origin of Jesus Christ, son of David, son of Abraham" (Mt 1:1).
It is "a list of names that already appear in the Hebrew Scriptures," said the Pontiff, "to show the truth of history and the truth of human life. In fact, the Lord's genealogy is made up of true history, in which there are some problematic names to say the least... But everything ends and unfolds in Mary and in Christ".
The genealogy, he continued, "is a literary genre, that is, a suitable form to convey a very important message: no one gives life to himself, but receives it as a gift from others; in this case it is the chosen people, and those who inherit the deposit of faith from their fathers, by passing on life to their children, also pass on faith in God to them".
In contrast to the genealogies of the Old Testament, in which only male names appear, "because in Israel the son is named after the father", women also appear in the genealogy of Jesus in Matthew, five in total: Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba and finally Mary.
The first four women "are not united by the fact that they are sinners", said the Pope, "but by the fact that they are strangers in the people of Israel. Matthew makes it clear that, as Benedict XVI wrote in his book on the childhood of Jesus, "through her the world of the Gentiles... enters into the genealogy of Jesus - his mission to Jews and Pagans becomes visible".
Mary, on the other hand, "takes on a special place: she marks a new beginning, she herself is a new beginning, because in her story the protagonist of procreation is no longer the human creature, but God himself". Jesus is therefore "the son of David, planted by Joseph in this dynasty and destined to be the Messiah of Israel, but he is also the son of Abraham and of foreign women and therefore destined to be the 'light of the Gentiles'".
In his greeting to the French-speaking pilgrims (who had brought to Rome a relic of Saint Therese of the Child Jesus, before whom the Pope stopped to pray on his arrival in the Paul VI Hall), the Pope's thoughts were with the inhabitants of the Mayotte archipelago devastated by a hurricane: "I assure them of my prayers. May God grant eternal rest to those who have lost their lives, and help and consolation to those in need and to the families affected." Recalling his Apostolic Journey to Ajaccio three days ago, the Pope affirmed: "The recent trip to Corsica, where I was welcomed so warmly, particularly impressed me by the zeal of the people, where faith is not a private matter, and by the number of children present: a great joy and a great hope!"
In conclusion, Pope Francis once again made a strong appeal for peace: "Let us pray for peace." The Pope called not to forget those who suffer from war: "Palestine, Israel and those who suffer in Ukraine and Myanmar". . Let us not forget to pray for peace, for an end to wars. We ask the Prince of Peace to give us peace in the world. War is always a defeat," Francis explained. (F.B.) (Agenzia Fides, 18/12/2024)
