“Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.” – Matthew 1:1
During a major city marathon, a runner passed his relay baton to the next teammate, who handed it on. Each runner moved the team forward, even if their pace or style differed. In the final stretch, the anchor runner sprinted across the finish line, completing what others began long before him. One race, many runners—one shared victory.
Matthew opens the New Testament with a relay list—forty-two generations passing the baton of promise. Some runners were champions, others limped with shame: kings and foreigners, saints and sinners, the famous and the forgotten. Yet none dropped the baton. Every handoff, every faltering step, carried the hope of the world forward until, in the fullness of time, the Anchor Runner—Jesus—took it and crossed the line for us all. Your life is one leg of this same unbroken relay. Your struggles, your small acts of faithfulness, your seasons of waiting—they are not detours; they are the race itself. As we await Christmas, remember you are part of this ongoing race. You have received the baton of faith. Run your with faithfulness, and hand it on with hope, for you are part of a story that ends in the everlasting victory of Christ.
A Journey of Reflection and Action
Take a moment for quiet reflection on the “baton of faith” you have received, journal about the ways you can run your leg of the race with faithfulness, and gently encourage others by sharing this message of Christ’s enduring victory.
Join Us in Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank you for making us part of the unbroken lineage of faith, culminating in Jesus Christ, our Anchor Runner; empower us to run our race with endurance and hope, faithfully handing on the promise of salvation.
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Scripture Footnote & Further Reading
The Scripture is adapted from the Catholic Daily Readings of the day, then list the full Further Reading: First Reading: Genesis 49:2, 8–10 Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 72:1–2, 3–4ab, 7–8, 17 Alleluia: O Sapientia, come and teach us the way of prudence! Gospel: Matthew 1:1–17
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