Matthew begins his Gospel with the genealogy of Jesus. The evangelist wanted to show us that Jesus belongs to the history of God's chosen people, and Jesus is the goal and fulfilment of that history.

Many names are mentioned as ancestors of Jesus, among whom are ordinary people, biblically unknown people and sinners. Yet, inspite of the infidelity and sinfulness of human beings, God fulfils His promise made to David, and through Israel's history, in unexpected ways, brings about the culmination of His purpose in Jesus Christ, the Messiah, the long-awaited Saviour.

God works in human history even today. Jesus is part of our history. He was incarnated in our history out of Divine love. He became part of us through very ordinary people. He did not consider it below His dignity to be associated with sinners even as His ancestors. On the contrary, our weak, sinful nature is the very substance which draws and even attracts God to us. God is always involved in our lowliness. Can we accept ourselves in our weakness and failures? Can we accept others as they are?