{"id":26883,"date":"2024-12-16T17:50:18","date_gmt":"2024-12-16T17:50:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/?p=26883"},"modified":"2024-12-16T17:52:10","modified_gmt":"2024-12-16T17:52:10","slug":"st-peter-news-december-16-2024","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stpeterorthodoxchurch.com\/st-peter-news-december-16-2024\/","title":{"rendered":"St. Peter News December 16, 2024"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sunday before Nativity of Christ (Sunday of the Genealogy)<\/h2>\n

Great Martyr Anastasia the deliverer from potions and her teacher the Martyr Chrysogonosr<\/h4>\n
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\n\"The<\/p>\n

The Geneology of Christ according to St. Luke<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

The Geneology of Christ<\/h2>\n

The genealogies in the gospels of Saints Matthew and Luke are made to and from Joseph. This is not to give the impression that Jesus came from Joseph’s seed. Both gospels are absolutely clear on this point. Jesus is born from the Virgin Mary by the power of the Holy Spirit. The point is rather that Joseph is Jesus’ father according to the law, and it is from the father that one’s lawful descent is to be traced. Jesus’ legal father is “Joseph, son of David,” the legal husband of Mary (Mt 1:20).<\/p>\n

One other important point is made in listing the human generations which led to the birth of Jesus. This is the fact that God is faithful to His promises even though His chosen people are often not faithful. Among the people from whom Jesus came are both sinners and heathens. In a word, Jesus comes not only from the righteous and holy, but from the wicked and sinful. And He comes not only from Jews, but from Gentiles. The names of the four women specifically mentioned in St. Matthew’s list— Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and the wife of Uriah (Bathsheba)— were noted, not to say notorious, Gentiles, including one of David’s own wives, the mother of Solomon. The point to be seen here is one beautifully made in an early Christian hymn quoted in the Bible in the second letter to Timothy:<\/p>\n

If we have died with Him, we shall also live with Him;<\/p>\n

If we endure, we shall also reign with Him;<\/p>\n

If we deny Him, He also will deny us;<\/p>\n

If we are faithless, He remains faithful— for He cannot deny Himself. (2 Tim 2:11-13)<\/p>\n

This is the wonderful witness of the genealogies of Jesus: If we are faithless, the Lord God remains faithful— for he cannot deny Himself!<\/p>\n

Source: Antiochian Archdiocese Website<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Services and Events This Week<\/h2>\n

The Nativity Fast Begins November 15 through December 24<\/em><\/p>\n