The Arena Homily | The Model Life of the Righteous King Josiah - Sunday Of Genealogy 2025 (Dec. 21, 2025)
Jan 1, 2026
Explore the fascinating diverging genealogies of Jesus in Matthew and Luke, highlighting Christ's authentic humanity and colorful ancestry. Discover King Josiah's pivotal role in spiritual revival through his reforms, his commitment to righteousness, and the significance of names in Christian tradition. Delve into Josiah's mistakes and eventual repentance, alongside Jeremiah's poignant tribute. This reflection emphasizes practical principles of faith and the call to emulate Josiah by striving for goodness while acknowledging human imperfection.
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Two Genealogies, Two Purposes
- The Gospels use two different genealogies to show Jesus' full humanity and his mission to different audiences.
- Matthew links Jesus to Abraham and David for Jewish Messiah expectations while Luke traces to Adam for universal humanity.
A Name Changed To Josiah
- Fr. Josiah shares his naming story: grandparents wanted 'Seth' but he became Bradford and later took the name Josiah at chrismation.
- He emphasizes how receiving a Christian name marked a real identity change when he became a catechumen.
Josiah's Historical Role
- King Josiah fulfilled a long prophecy by eradicating idolatry and reforming Israel's worship.
- He led the greatest cultural repentance in Israel's history and is honored among righteous kings.