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Question
Praised be the Lord Jesus Christ, father Angelo, and a prayer to wish you a Happy and Holy Christmas.
A friend asked me this question.
How was it possible to reconstruct Jesus’ genealogy in such a detailed way?
I, of course, gave a superficial answer.
Can you help me?
Please
Thank you father Angelo
Gabriella

Priest’s answer
Dear Gabriella,

1. great importance was attributed to genealogies in Israel because the population and the nation were divided in tribes, each of which had its own goods to preserve and, most importantly, they were conscious of being the chosen people, heralds of promises.
Genealogies were so important that those who couldn’t prove their genealogy were excluded from being counted among the Israelites.

2. The book of Esdras mentions this: in the second chapter we find a long list of names of the people who had come back from exile in Babylon.
They were the founders and priests of various dynasties.
There we find written: “Also, of the descendants of the priests: the descendants of Habaiah, Hakkoz, and Barzillai (who had married one of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and was called by their name).
These looked for their entries in the genealogical records, but they were not found there, and so they were excluded from the priesthood as unclean” (Esd 2:62-62) 

3. We shouldn’t expect chronological and mathematical precision from the genealogies. Sometimes they are summarized, which might be what has happened in the case of Jesus’ genealogy as reported by Matthew. 

4. However, it is a fact that the various families periodically updated their genealogies and passed them down by word of mouth.

5. The New Testament also attests that the Hebrews gave much importance to the genealogies and jealously guarded them.
For example, it is pointed out that Elizabeth was a descendant of Aaron: “In the days of King Herod of Judaea there lived a priest called Zechariah who belonged to the Abijah section of the priesthood, and he had a wife, Elizabeth by name, who was a descendant of Aaron” (Lk 1:5).
We read about the prophetess Anna, who was present at the temple when Jesus was brought there: “There was a prophetess, too, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher.” (Lk 2:36).
Saint Paul, talking about himself, says: “Circumcised on the eighth day of my life, I was born of the race of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrew parents.” (Phil 3:5). 

6. Jesus is repeatedly called son of David because David was promised an eternal kingdom: “Your dynasty and your sovereignty will ever stand firm before me and your throne be for ever secure.” (2 Sam 7:16) and “I have established his dynasty for ever, his throne to be as lasting as the heavens.” (Ps 89:29).
By definition, being the son of David was the same thing as being the promised Messiah.

7. Here are some passages from the Gospel of Matthew where Jesus is called son of David.
As Jesus went on his way two blind men followed him shouting, ‘Take pity on us, son of David.’ ” (Matt 9:27).
“All the people were astounded and said, ‘Can this be the son of David?’ ” (Matt 12:23).
“And suddenly out came a Canaanite woman from that district and started shouting, ‘Lord, Son of David, take pity on me. My daughter is tormented by a devil.’ ” (Matt 15:22).
“And now there were two blind men sitting at the side of the road. When they heard that it was Jesus who was passing by, they shouted, ‘Lord! Have pity on us, son of David.’ ” (Matt 20:30).
“And the crowd scolded them and told them to keep quiet, but they only shouted the louder, ‘Lord! Have pity on us, son of David.’ ” (Matt 20:31).
“The crowds who went in front of him and those who followed were all shouting: Hosanna to the son of David! Blessed is he who is coming in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heavens!” (Mt 21:9).

I wish you a Holy Christmas.
I pray for you to the Lord and bless you.
Father Angelo