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Wednesday of the Third Week of Advent
Genesis 49:2, 8-10
Psalm 72:1-2, 3-4AB, 7-8, 17
Mattth1:1-17
Summary
Today’s Responsorial Psalm is “Justice shall flourish in His time, and fullness of peace
for ever.” Matthew’s Gospel shows the generational connection between Abraham
to David, David to Babylonian exile, and Babylonian exile to Jesus – each removed by
fourteen generations.
Reflection
Throughout Advent, we remind ourselves that Advent is a time of waiting with hope
– readying ourselves for Jesus’ birth. We prepare mangers in our nativity scenes,
and we are reminded of His very humble beginnings. The Gospel sets out this gener-
ational link of prophecies fulfilled, but one would never know it if you only knew He
was a poor boy, no crib for a bed, born in a stable. Three wise men came to honor
him, but so did shepherds – shepherds who likely were unlearned, without great pow-
er or influence, and likely poor. But the shepherds and the wise men were equals
here. Both came to honor His birth.
Recently a group of North American Catholic Moral Theologians published and en-
dorsed a statement authored by Tobias Winwright, a former law enforcement officer,
“Catholic Theologians for Police Reform and Racial Justice.” The introduction to
the statement begins “Advent is a season of waiting and of hoping. In the face of con-
flict, distrust, and division – in the wilderness – we are called to cry out for a different
way.” Here is the website address, if you wish to read it in its entirety.
catholic-
moraltheology.com/statement-of-catholic-theologians-on-racial-justice/
“Justice shall flourish in His time, and fullness in peace for ever.” We are living in a
time where people, myself included, are disillusioned and disappointed. Where is the
justice? We want justice to flourish now! However, even the very definition of justice
is difficult to agree on. Often, when we speak of justice, it is in the context of crime
or wrongdoing – especially, when we speak of it about current events. Retributive
justice (punishing for wrongdoing), utilitarian justice (punishment for deterrence, re-
habilitation, and security), restorative justice
(focusing on needs of both victims and offenders)
– the list goes on. And on.
I asked my eight year old, and she said justice is
“fairness between everyone.” I think she hit the
nail on the head. A simple and pure definition.
As Christians, we are called to serve God. And