April 7 2 Samuel 4-7 & Matthew 1:1-17

Today is my brother’s birthday. I am very grateful for his presence in my life. God's blessing on your birthday Brother! David (oh by the way David is my brother’s name) in 2 Samuel prays before every major decision, 2 Sam 4:19, “David inquired of the Lord,” Jesus will do the same thing, “Not my will, but yours be done.” We don’t hear the whole process with either David or Jesus, but you can bet that there was some silent heart work being done. Listening with the ear of your heart as St. Benedict says is critical especially in significant decisions. Seek the Lord’s will. Give him the time to answer your prayers. We Catholics are really good at saying our part in prayers; we need to keep working on the listening part. David is showing himself to be the king he is called to be. Yes, he will have some more times of trouble, but his willingness to seek and at times defer to the Lord’s will is one of his best qualities. May you and the Lord have some quality prayer time today and if inspired dance before him as David.

It took me several years to master proclaiming Matthew’s genealogy of Jesus. It starts by connecting him with the two great figures of the Old Testament – David and Abraham, Abraham our father in faith and David the great King. Generations and generations of names. People who went before us in faith. The Austin family looks to the faith of our Grandmother Austin the one Catholic that inspired us all the blessings of our faith. What are the names of some of your genealogy that inspire faith in you and your family tree? Just a few women show up in Jesus’ family tree, but they are important – Rahab, Ruth, wife of Uriah (Bathsheba), and Mary. Though we do not know Mary’s tribal ancestry, through marriage, she becomes a member of the house of David.