Sunday before Nativity

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Today, on this Sunday before the great and joyous Feast of the Nativity of our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ, the Holy Church places before us the Gospel reading from the Holy Evangelist Matthew: the genealogy of our Lord, beginning with Abraham and leading to Joseph the Betrothed, and the announcement of His miraculous birth from the Virgin Mary (Matthew 1:1–25).

At first glance, this long list of names may seem dry or difficult to follow—Abraham begot Isaac, Isaac begot Jacob, Jacob begot Judah and his brothers… and so on, through kings and common folk, saints and sinners. We may wonder: Why does the Church appoint this reading now, just as we prepare to celebrate the Birth of the Savior? Yet, beloved, this genealogy is no mere historical record. It is a profound revelation of God’s boundless love and His plan for our salvation.

The Evangelist Matthew begins: “The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham.” Here he proclaims that Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s ancient promises—to Abraham, that through his seed all nations would be blessed; to David, that his throne would endure forever. Our Lord is truly the promised Messiah, born of the royal line of David, yet not through human power, but by the Holy Spirit.

Look closely at this family tree, and you will see not only righteous patriarchs and prophets, but also sinners: Rahab the harlot, Ruth the Moabitess (a foreigner), David the king who fell into adultery and murder, and many others whose lives were marked by weakness and failure. Why does the Holy Evangelist include them? To show us that Christ did not come into a perfect, spotless lineage detached from humanity’s brokenness. No—He entered fully into our fallen world, taking upon Himself real human flesh from real ancestors, stained by sin yet awaiting redemption.

As the Holy Fathers teach, Christ assumed our humanity in all its reality, including its wounds, so that He might heal it completely. He is not ashamed to call us brethren, nor was He ashamed to be born into this imperfect lineage. The genealogy reminds us: God does not reject sinners; He enters their story to transform it. From Adam’s fall to the present day, humanity groaned under the weight of sin, awaiting the One who would crush the serpent’s head. And now, in the fullness of time, He comes—not as a distant judge, but as a Child born of the Virgin, Emmanuel, “God with us.”

We see this most clearly in righteous Joseph the Betrothed. When he learned of Mary’s pregnancy, he was troubled, yet he obeyed the angel’s voice: “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.” In his quiet obedience, Joseph becomes a model for us all. He protects the mystery of the Incarnation, accepting God’s will even when it surpasses understanding.

Beloved, as we approach the holy manger in Bethlehem, let this genealogy stir our hearts. Christ has united Himself to all humanity—saints and sinners alike—so that through His Nativity, we might be united to Him. He has made us part of His family, grafting us into the true Vine through Holy Baptism. No matter our past, no matter our failings, He calls us to repentance, to prepare room in our hearts for His coming.

As we stand on the threshold of the great Feast, let us ask ourselves: Have we prepared our own “genealogy” of the heart? Have we allowed Christ to enter into the broken places of our lives—the sins we hide, the wounds we carry, the fears that trouble us? The same Lord who was not ashamed to be born of Mary and Joseph is not ashamed to dwell in us, if we will only open the door.

Let us, then, hasten to the feast with joy. Let us cleanse our souls through fasting, prayer, and almsgiving. Let us imitate the obedience of Joseph and the purity of the Virgin. For in a few days, we will sing: “Christ is born! Glorify Him!”

The Church calls us now to the final days of the Nativity Fast. Let us use them well. Let us increase our prayers, our almsgiving, our forgiveness toward one another. Let us stand in church with reverence and receive the Holy Mysteries worthily. Let us prepare, as Joseph prepared, to welcome the Child who is God with us.

The Church calls us now to the final days of the Nativity Fast. Let us use them well. Let us increase our prayers, our almsgiving, our forgiveness toward one another. Let us stand in church with reverence and receive the Holy Mysteries worthily. Let us prepare, as Joseph prepared, to welcome the Child who is God with us.

May the Lord who became man for our sake grant us grace to receive Him worthily, that we may be counted among His holy ancestors—not by flesh, but by faith and love.

Amen.