“And David the king begot Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias. And Solomon begot Roboam. And Roboam begot Abia. And Abia begot Asa. And Asa begot Josaphat. And Josaphat begot Joram. And Joram begot Ozias. And Ozias begot Joatham. And Joatham begot Achaz. And Achaz begot Ezechias. And Ezechias begot Manasses. And Manasses begot Amon. And Amon begot Josias. And Josias begot Jechonias and his brethren in the transmigration of Babylon.”
St. Matthew begins the second fourteen generations in his presentation of Jesus’ genealogy with the putting forth of David’s sin, to show that there is no sin from which Jesus will shrink. Even the most prominent of his ancestors declined from God’s ways, but by this we were given the magnificent penitential psalm fifty. He will make the most of the ways in which you have fallen, and all of you will be used to express His love. Solomon is interpreted “peace-maker,” because the true Solomon gives the gift of peace; a heart that knows that it is perfectly loved is entirely at rest. Roboam is interpreted as “by a multitude of people,” for Christ is lifted up by all nations, His glory is active in all the earth. “My beloved is gone down into his garden, to the bed of aromatical spices, to feed in the gardens, and to gather lilies” (Song 6:1). “Abia” means “the Lord, Father,” for the Lord Jesus is the father of salvation, being Him who welcomed all that turn to Him into the way of I love you. “Asa” is “lifting up,” for He lifts you up from your former ways of loving things of the earth to the true way of love, into the majesty of His face. “Josaphat” means “judging,” for all judgement is given to the Son. He is the judge against His faithful, yet the wind in the sails for those that love Him; St. Therese once told her sisters not to talk about purgatory, for “Those who love don’t go there.” “Joram” is translated as “lofty,” for “No man hath ascended up to heaven, but He that came down from heaven” (John 3:13). The depths of His infinite love are too lofty for us to comprehend, yet so accessible and simply available to His people. “Ozias” shows “the Lord’s strength,” for the love of God will overcome all things, “For I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor might, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39). “Joatham” or, “completed, perfected” shows that the old law is completed by the love that is God. All things find their perfection and end in God, and all tend towards Him in celebration and praise. “Achaz,” that is, “turning,” according to “Be ye turned to me” (Zechariah 1:3), that we may turn to Him like someone turning to the sun to receive its warmth. “Achaz” can also mean “embracing,” “His right hand is under my head, and his right hand shall embrace me” (Song 8:3). “Ezechias” is of particular beauty, both in the man that renewed Judah and in the meaning of his name: “The Lord shall comfort.” Let him comfort you with affection and loving words, for he is here to comfort you in all your afflictions. “Manasses” means “forgetful,” for He will remember your sins no more, and sees you as the precious treasure that you are, “Thou art all fair, O my love, and there is not a spot in thee” (Song 4:7). “Amon” means “trustworthy,” for the Lord is entirely trustworthy, He does not love poorly as you have encountered before, but with perfect love cares for you entirely. “Josias,” or “the incense of the Lord” shows the fragrance of love that emits from true devotion. It is so tangible when one loves in truth! “Draw me: we will run after thee to the odour of thy ointments” (Song 1:3). Finally, “Jechonias,” that is, “preparing,” according to “If I shall depart, I will also prepare a place for you” (John 14:3). The Lord is preparing your place in the heavenly place where you will live in perfect love, seeing it face to face. He is welcoming you into His palace, and will lift you there by His merits and love.