"Do not consider this genealogy a small thing to hear: for truly it is a marvellous thing that God should descend to be born of a woman, and to have as His ancestors David and Abraham" (St. John Chrysostom, Homily on Matthew).
Study Audio

 
This week's LOVE exercise (interactive scripture meditation, or lectio divina) is based on an Franciscan* personality approach. Go on! Try it!

Listen (Lectio)

"And his mercy is on those who fear him from generation to generation" (Luk 1:50).

Observe (Meditatio)

Sometime this week, visit someone in your family who is old. If there is no one in your family who is aged or who lives close by enough for a visit, go to a nursing home unannounced and ask permission to visit an elderly patient who rarely has visitors.

Verbalize (Oratio)

Talk to this person about God's mercy. What do you have in common? What is different?

Entrust (Contemplatio)

Before you leave, pray for this person and all his/her ancestors and descendants. In your prayer, entrust them all to God along with your own ancestors and descendants. Ask God to bless and help your new friend, and add him or her to your daily prayer list.

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*Interactive scripture meditations, LOVE Exercises, vary weekly according to the four personalities, or "prayer forms," explored in Prayer and Temperament, by Chester Michael and Marie Norrisey: Ignatian, Augustinian, Franciscan, and Thomistic.
Scripture References for the Show
Luke 1:46-55, the words of the Magnificat

And Mary said:
“My soul magnifies the Lord,
47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48 for he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden.
For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed;
49 for he who is mighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
50 And his mercy is on those who fear him
from generation to generation.
51 He has shown strength with his arm,
he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts,
52 he has put down the mighty from their thrones,
and exalted those of low degree;
53 he has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent empty away.
54 He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
55 as he spoke to our fathers,
to Abraham and to his posterity for ever.”

Exo 34:7  “keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children's children, to the third and the fourth generation."

Matthew 1 & Luke 3:23, genealogies of Jesus

2 Samuel 7:12, Promise to David concerning Christ, royal line of David, that He should spring from him, and reign for ever. Confirmed in Psalm 88 and 131; repeated to Solomon, David's Son, 1 Kings 9:5.

Genesis 22:18, Promises to Abraham concerning Christ

Genesis 14:13, Abram called "Hebrew" for the first time (from nation called Eber, meaning to cross over or pass through)
 Episode Resources

Sonja's Made for Mercy Series

"...[H]e therefore entitles it, 'The book of the generation,' because this is the sum of the whole dispensation, the root of all its blessings; viz. that God become man; for this once effected, all other things followed of course. And do not consider this genealogy a small thing to hear: for truly it is a marvellous thing that God should descend to be born of a woman, and to have as His ancestors David and Abraham." (Chrysostom., Homily in Matthew ii).
New Advent Catholic Encyclopedia on hypostatic union

CCC 494 As St. Irenaeus says,