+ It is certainly clear from the gospel passage where Jesus came from. He has quite the distinguished family tree! May we not forget that our family-tree-of-faith is just as distinguished if not moreso – because in the spiritual regeneration of our baptism we have Jesus (and all of his spiritual relatives) as part of our tree, but also his Father and their Holy Spirit. We have an amazing spiritual gene-pool to draw from in our ordinary day by day lives of discipleship! It is actually quite exciting! The question though is posed: do we remember our spiritual heritage, do we call upon it, do we use it?
Today we begin the very special Masses of Advent which are centered on the theme of the eight "O Antiphons" of the Magnificat of the Blessed Virgin Mary found in Evening Prayer of the Liturgy of the Hours. Each day a special title of the coming Messiah is presented with its meaning in this "antiphon." (Actually the hymn: O Come O Come Emmanuel is based directly on these titles). The same new daily antiphon is used as the "alleluia verse" of the Masses from December 17 to December 24.
Today's "O-title" is "Wisdom – O Wisdom of our God Most High, guiding creation with power and love: come to teach us the path of knowledge." This Wisdom of God would no doubt begin its teaching by reminding us of our spiritual heritage grounded in he whose life was prepared for by 42 generations of faithful people: men and women who yearned for the power and protection and peace that only God could give! Forty-two generations pointing to one person cannot be wrong!
Let us be willing to be taught, let us follow the shining star of Wisdom!
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