Our tainted nature's solitary boast

This effusive description of the Blessed Virgin Mary by the poet William Wordsworth illuminates today’s Gospel quite nicely. It’s a good thing, because the genealogies can be the most uninteresting passages of Scripture to read or listen to.

Actually, the genealogy in today’s Gospel is something like a test on the historical books of the Old Testament. Even the most casual student will probably recognize the names of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David, and Solomon and will understand one of the most important points of the genealogy: that Christ in his human nature is descended from these central figures in the long history of the relationship between God and his people, that he is the last chapter in salvation history.

Those who know somewhat more of the Old Testament will recognize somewhat more of the list and will know that a number of the names belong to people whose reputations were less than pure: prostitutes, adulterers, murderers, idolaters, etc.

This is a fine description of the tainted human nature we all share. Yet out of this rough earth God made a pure flower bloom: the Blessed Virgin Mary, that same human nature now preserved from taint.

We ourselves may not be prostitutes or murderers, but we have all done things we are not proud of. Today’s Feast and today’s Gospel remind us that no matter what, God’s grace can do wonderful things, in his own time and in his own ways. It is never too late. We must never despair. We can turn to him even now and God will give us his forgiveness and his grace and as he wills, we too will be able to boast in the Lord.