The Sunday Before the Nativity

Christ was not embarrassed by the “skeletons” hidden in His ancestor’s closets.

Tomorrow is the Sunday before the Nativity. On this day we commemorate the human ancestors of Jesus, from Adam to Joseph who are all a part of the genealogy of Jesus according to the Gospels. This gospel particularly draws our attention to the historical genealogy, and thereby, creates in us a feeling of expectation for Christ’s birth – as the fulfillment of humanity’s hopes.

It brings the righteous who lived before Christ into the joy of the, “Virgin birth and incarnation”, inviting them all by praises and divine spiritual hymns to prepare for the birth of Christ in the flesh.

The human ancestry of Jesus Christ shows us that the Lord identifies with the human race, with men and women of flesh and blood like us all with failings, blemishes and all, for by His birth He becomes part of us, His creation.

This is what the Feast of Christmas is all about. One of the most endeared doctors of the Church, St. John Chrysostom, said that Christ was not embarrassed by the “skeletons”, hidden in His ancestor’s closets. In the genealogies recorded in this gospel, it is very evident and clear, that there were many serious sinners in His ancestry.

We are all sharing in the birth in the flesh of the Son of God and thus new Life in Him!

Taken from:

https://www.sthermansoca.org/spirituality/sunday-before-nativity/