Gospel in Art: The genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David

The Tree of Jesse, Illuminated page by Master of James IV of Scotland, 1510, Flemish, Bruges

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 17 December 2024
Matthew 1:1-17

The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram, and Ram the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon, and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of David the king.

And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah, and Solomon the father of Rehoboam, and Rehoboam the father of Abijah, and Abijah the father of Asaph, and Asaph the father of Jehoshaphat, and Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, and Joram the father of Uzziah, and Uzziah the father of Jotham, and Jotham the father of Ahaz, and Ahaz the father of Hezekiah, and Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, and Manasseh the father of Amos, and Amos the father of Josiah, and Josiah the father of Jechoniah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon.

And after the deportation to Babylon: Jechoniah was the father of Shealtiel, and Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel, and Zerubbabel the father of Abiud, and Abiud the father of Eliakim, and Eliakim the father of Azor, and Azor the father of Zadok, and Zadok the father of Achim, and Achim the father of Eliud, and Eliud the father of Eleazar, and Eleazar the father of Matthan, and Matthan the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ.

So all the generations from Abraham to David were fourteen generations, and from David to the deportation to Babylon fourteen generations, and from the deportation to Babylon to the Christ fourteen generations.

Reflection on the Illuminated Manuscript Page

In our Flemish illuminated manuscript from 1510, we see the Old Testament figure Jesse, depicted in sumptuous medieval attire, reclining on a bed. From his body grows a tree, its branches spreading to fill the page. On these branches sit Old Testament kings, most wearing crowns and holding sceptres. Among them, we can identify King David with his harp. The tree culminates in a blooming lily, cradling the Virgin and Child within a golden aureole. This beautiful image illustrates the prophecy from Isaiah 11:1: "A shoot shall spring from the root of Jesse, and a flower shall grow out of his root." It also visually connects to today's Gospel reading, highlighting Jesus as the Son of David and fulfilling the long-awaited lineage.

The genealogy outlined in Matthew's Gospel spans the history of salvation, beginning with Abraham, continuing through David, and presented in six groups of seven names. For the Jewish people, the number seven symbolises perfection, and this structure underscores the completeness of God's plan. The genealogy reaches its climax in Jesus, whose birth Israel had awaited for over two thousand years. God had long been preparing the way for the coming of His Son.

Matthew's genealogy lists a wide array of people-holy figures, sinners, outcasts, and those of questionable reputation. Yet, God worked with and through all of them to bring about the coming of Christ. This reminds us that, like them, we too can be partners in God's plan, participating in His ongoing work of salvation, even though realising we are all sinners.

Our Gospel reading is proclaimed each year on 17 December, also the first day of the "O Antiphons" and the beginning of the more immediate preparation for Christmas during the Advent season. The "O Antiphons" are a series of seven ancient liturgical chants sung during Evening Prayer (Vespers) in the Liturgy of the Hours, from 17 December to 23 December, in the lead-up to Christmas. Each antiphon is a title for the Messiah, drawn from Old Testament prophecies and rich with biblical symbolism, expressing the longing and anticipation for the coming of Christ.

1. 17 December: O Sapientia (O Wisdom)

2. 18 December: O Adonai (O Lord of Might)

3. 19 December: O Radix Jesse (O Root of Jesse)

4. 20 December: O Clavis David (O Key of David)

5. 21 December: O Oriens (O Rising Sun)

6. 22 December: O Rex Gentium (O King of the Nations)

7. 23 December: O Emmanuel (O God with Us)

LINKS

Gospel in Art: https://christian.art/
Today's Reflection: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/matthew-1-1-17-2024/