Joanne Guarnieri Hagemeyer Christmas

Second Day of Advent: Bathsheba

I wonder if Matthew, ex-tax collector and publican that he was, identified with these women and men at some level. Through this record God is displaying God’s grace to all people, victims and perpetrators. Even in this genealogy Matthew was already giving us a clue there is something unique and earth-shaking about Jesus. 

Joanne Guarnieri Hagemeyer Christmas

First Sunday of Advent: Tamar, Rahab, and Ruth

If Matthew had ransacked the entire Hebrew scriptures he would have been hard-pressed to find four more unlikely candidates for the Messiah’s genealogy!

Joanne Guarnieri Hagemeyer Minor Prophets

Minor Prophets: Haggai, Zerubbabel and the Signet Ring

Though this is the shortest of Haggai’s oracles, it is surprisingly dense! In it God redeems Zerubbabel's family baggage.