"Magabata Siya Sing Lalaki, Kag Ngalanan Mo Siya Nga Jesus"

Ebanghelyo subong nga Adlaw (Mateo 1:1-16, 18-23)

Amo ini ang mga katigulangan ni Jesu-Cristo nga kaliwat ni David. Si David nga ini kaliwat ni Abraham.

Si Abraham amay ni Isaac, si Isaac amay ni Jacob, kag si Jacob amay ni Juda kag sang iya mga utod nga lalaki.

Si Juda nakapangasawa kay Tamar kag may duha sila ka anak nga si Fares kag si Zara. Si Fares amay ni Esrom, kag si Esrom amay ni Aram.

Si Aram amay ni Aminadab, si Aminadab amay ni Naason, kag si Naason amay ni Salmon.

Si Salmon nakapangasawa kay Rahab kag ang ila anak amo si Booz. Si Booz amay ni Obed kag ang iya sini iloy amo si Ruth. Si Obed amay ni Jesse, kag si Jesse amay ni Haring David.

Si Haring David amay ni Solomon kag ang iya iloy asawa anay ni Orias.

Si Solomon amay ni Roboam, si Roboam amay ni Abias, kag si Abias amay ni Asa.

Si Asa amay ni Josafat, si Josafat amay ni Joram, kag si Joram amay ni Ozias.

Si Ozias amay ni Jotam, si Jotam amay ni Acaz, kag si Acaz amay ni Esequias.

Si Esequias amay ni Manases, si Manases amay ni Amos, si Amos amay ni Josias, kag si Josias amay ni Jeconias kag sang iya mga utod nga lalaki. Sa sadto nga panahon ginbihag ang mga taga-Israel pa-Babilonia.

Amo ini ang lista sang katigulangan ni Jesus sa tapos mabihag ang mga taga-Israel pa-Babilonia: si Jeconias amay ni Salatiel, si Salatiel amay ni Zorobabel, si Zorobabel amay ni Abiud, si Abiud amay ni Eliaquim, kag si Eliaquim amay ni Azor.

Si Azor amay ni Sadoc, si Sadoc amay ni Aquim, kag si Aquim amay ni Eliud.

Si Eliud amay ni Eleazar, si Eleazar amay ni Matan, si Matan amay ni Jacob, si Jacob amay ni Jose nga bana ni Maria. Si Maria amo ang iloy ni Jesus nga ginatawag Cristo.

Amo ini ang pagkatawo ni Jesu-Cristo: Si Maria nga iya iloy kalaslon na kay Jose. Pero sa wala pa sila maghiusa nasapwan ni Maria nga nagabusong na siya paagi sa Espiritu Santo.

Karon, si Jose nga mangin iya bana isa ka matarong nga tawo kag indi siya luyag nga mahuy-an si Maria sa mga tawo. Gani ginpakamaayo niya nga bulagan si Maria sa tago lang.

Samtang ginahunahuna ni Jose ang iya himuon, nagpakita sa iya sa damgo ang anghel sang Ginoo nga nagasiling, "Jose, kaliwat ni David, indi ka magkahadlok nga magpangasawa kay Maria, kay nagabusong siya paagi sa Espiritu Santo.

Magabata siya sing lalaki kag ngalanan mo siya nga Jesus, kay luwason niya ang iya katawhan sa ila mga sala."

Natabo ini agod matuman ang ginsiling sang Ginoo paagi sa propeta nga nagsiling, "Magabusong ang isa ka ulay, kag magabata siya sing lalaki. Kag ang ini nga bata pagatawgon nga Emmanuel" (nga kon sayuron, "Ang Dios kaupod naton").

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Meditation: 

Do you rejoice in the promises of God and trust in his saving plan for your life? There is a long venerable tradition among many Christians of celebrating the birth of Mary, the mother of Jesus our Savior, on this day. Her birth prepared for our redemption in Jesus Christ. Matthew begins his gospel with the geneology of Jesus from Abraham's lineage through the line of David, King of Israel. Matthew concludes his geneology by stating that both Mary, Jesus' mother and Joseph, his foster father, came from the line of David. Mary was asked to assume in faith a burden of tremendous responsibility. It had never been heard of before that a child could be born without a natural father. Mary was asked to accept this miraculous exception to the laws of nature. That required faith and trust. Second, Mary was not yet married. Pregnancy outside of wedlock was not tolerated in those days. Mary was only espoused to Joseph, and such an engagement had to last for a whole year. She was asked to assume a great risk. She could have been rejected by Joseph, by her family, by all her own people. Mary knew that Joseph and her family would not understand without revelation from God. She nonetheless believed and trusted in God's promises. Joseph, a just and God-fearing man, believed the message given to him to take Mary as his wife and to accept the child in her womb as the promised Messiah. Like Mary, Joseph is a model of faith for us. He is a faithful witness and servant of God's unfolding plan of redemption. Are you willing to trust and obey the Lord as Mary and Joseph did?

What is the significance of Matthew's genealogy? His genealogy is arranged in three sections portraying three great stages in the spiritual history of the people of the old covenant. The first stage begins with Abraham, the father of the chosen people, and ends with David, God's anointed King. The second stage takes us to the exile of God's people in Babylon. This is the period of Israel's shame and disaster due to her unfaithfulness. The third stage takes us to Jesus, God's anointed Messiah. Jesus the Messiah is the direct descent of Abraham and David, and the rightful heir to David's throne. God in his mercy fulfilled his promises to Abraham and to David that he would send a Savior and a King to rule over the house of Israel and to deliver them from their enemies. Jesus is the fulfillment of all God's promises. He is the hope not only for the people of the Old Covenant but for all nations as well. He is the Savior of the world. In him we receive adoption into a royal priesthood and holy nation as sons and daughters of the living God (see 1 Peter 1:9). Do you recognize your spiritual genealogy and do you accept God as your Father and Jesus as the sovereign King and Lord of your life?

"Lord Jesus, you came to save us from sin and the power of death. May I always rejoice in your salvation and trust in your plan for my life".