I wonder about Pope Francis’s great grandfather. Do you think he ever had any idea that his one his heirs would become a priest, then a cardinal, and now the Pope of the universal Church. Do you think he had any idea that his great grandson would be known worldwide and influence millions of people? My guess is that he was a simple man of faith who struggled with the same kinds of temptations and daily problems we do. His faithfulness allowed him to be a link in a chain that would bring a great and holy man into the world.
Today we listen to a prophecy made about one of Jesus’ great, great, great,…,great grandfathers. His name was Judah (Genesis 49:2,8-10). His father, Jacob, saw a warrior king hidden inside his son.
“You, Judah, shall your brothers praise—the sons of your father shall bow down to you. Judah, like a lion’s whelp, you have grown up on prey,my son. He crouches like a lion recumbent, the king of beasts—who would dare rouse him?”
Logically, Jacob’s oldest son, Rueben should have been the leader of his brothers. Why Judah—the fourth-born son. Jacob watched this little guy grow up. Judah reminded him of a lion’s whelp (puppy), feeding on prey, and learning how to be the king of beasts. As Jacob watched his son grow up, he saw a great destiny in store for him.
“The scepter shall never depart from Judah, or the mace between his legs—he receives people’s homage.”
I wonder what Judah thought about these prophetic words? Maybe he thought that Jacob’s aging mind was getting the best of him. Did Judah imagine that his lion-like disposition would eventually result in the appearance of great king David? Do you think he had any idea that one of his ancestors would be the King of all kings and Lord of all lords—a “lion” who would overcome the prince of darkness and even break the chains of death?
Today’s reading from Matthew (1:1-17) gives a list of David’s paternal ancestors—forty-two in all. He begins with Abraham, continues through his great grandson, Judah. Then he goes on to mention Judah’s eldest son Perez (was he also lionlike?) and covers nine more generations up to king David. Finally, the prophecy of Jacob came true—the scepter of power peaked in the gentle musician-shepherd who defeated nation after nation in the name of the Lord.
We take a deep breath and read fourteen more names up to a much weaker king, Jeconiah and the defeat of Israel. From there fourteen more names up to the quiet man Joseph, the husband of Mary.
Forty-two generations before the “lion of Judah” emerged on our planet. Then, unlike a ferocious lion, Jesus died like a lamb led to slaughter. From his side the Church was born. And so, here we are, some two hundred generations later continuing to give honor to Jesus—the King of kings and Lord of lords. He continues to bind up the forces of darkness, release people from Satan’s prison, and bring victory to the lowly people who put their trust in him.
Do you think Jacob knew that he would have to wait forty-two generations before the “Lion of Judah” appeared? Along the way I wonder how many people got tired of waiting and ditched their faith in Jacob’s prophecy.
We are part of a kingly race. Our small faith decisions today are part of a chain that will one day bring about Jesus’ final triumph and return in glory. Will we be faithful during the “generation after generation” waiting process?
As we watch the “Lion of Judah” seem to lose ground in the faltering Church of our age, are we tempted to give up because we want a more lion-like Church? Do we realize our own names are written somewhere in Jesus’ ancestral chart?
“May he rule from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth” (Ps 72:7).
