The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham… Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary. Of her was born Jesus who is called the Messiah. Thus the total number of generations from Abraham to David is fourteen generations; from David to the Babylonian exile, fourteen generations; from the Babylonian exile to the Messiah, fourteen generations. Now this is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found with child through the holy Spirit. Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly…
"Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel," which means "God is with us." (Mt 1:1-16.18-23)
Today’s reading, from gospel of Matthew, presents Jesus in the wider context of Israel (Abraham and David and so on) and in the closer context of Joseph and Mary. Author is trying to present Jesus in a historical context. Birth of Jesus is a historical event. It is also a temporal event. It happens in time and space. It is a historical event.
Jesus was an Israelite and he was from Abraham and David. These are the two pillars of the nation. One was the father (physical/family) of the Israelites and the other is the first head of the nation. So, Jesus has a national role to play and also role of the father of the family.
This historical, social, national and a family event takes place with the assistance of God. God enters into the scene through the person of Joseph. The whole event is going to have a religious slant. Jesus who will be born of Mary is going to be ‘Emmanuel’ – God with us. Yes, a historical, social event becomes a divine event. God is God of history and God in the society (nation).
