“A family record of Jesus Christ…” –Matthew 1:1 I’ve often heard parishioners express discontent about having to listen to today’s Gospel litany of name after name in the genealogy of Jesus. Church attendees often seem bored with the genealogy. Genealogy, however, is riding a wave of popularity at present. One of the primary uses of the Internet is genealogical research. I know three individuals who “have carefully traced” (Lk 1:3) their family histories back hundreds of years. To these individuals, genealogies are exciting, not boring. They spent countless hours researching their beloved family lineage. They rejoice when they find another...

“The lowly will hear me and be glad.” –Psalm 34:3 Throughout much of our lives, many of us develop the illusion that we are naturally good-hearted, loving, and kind people. We pretend that about all we want out of life is to help people. Although various circumstances in our lives seem to indicate a self-centered, egotistical attitude in us, we ignore these details. Usually somewhere around middle age, we may realize by God’s grace that we have spent our whole lives thinking about ourselves and seeking our own pleasure, even at others’ expense. We now begin to realize we are...