Christ was a man.
Although we may know this, we often forget to consider the reality of it.
Christ was a man and He descended from a lineage of fallen, broken humans such as ourselves.
We are reminded of this profound reality each Christmas. At Mass on Christmas Eve, we read the genealogy of Jesus from the Gospel of Matthew. With each name and generation, we are reminded of the humanity of Our Lord, of His beautiful humility, and of our own roles in salvation history.
The beautiful truth of Our Lord’s humanity is not something reserved for Christmas Mass. We should prayerfully consider it all throughout Advent. As we prepare for the coming of Our Lord, it is important to remember how God prepared for the coming of His Son through generations of men and women unknowingly aiding in His divine plan.
This is the beauty of a Jesse Tree! A traditional Advent practice, a Jesse Tree is a special tree (usually an actual tree or a paper tree) that visually recreates the genealogy of Jesus as presented in the Catholic Bible, beginning with Adam and Eve from Genesis through to the birth of the Baby Jesus in Bethlehem.
Each ancestor of Jesus featured on the Jesse Tree is represented by an easily-recognizable symbol. For example, Jacob is represented with a ladder ornament that recalls his vision of a ladder descending from heaven to earth. Each ornament is hung on the Jesse Tree.
The Jesse Tree is a great way for kids to learn their Bible stories and to help them understand how important every individual is and how they each have a role to play in salvation history.
However, it is also a beautiful reminder for Catholics of all ages to consider the gift of Our Lord’s humanity.
If you don’t have a Jesse Tree, it’s not too late! Get creative and use a small Christmas tree, a sturdy branch from outside, or craft one out of paper or felt!
We also love these Salvation History Wooden Advent Blocks! An updated take on a classic Jesse Tree, these fun and interactive blocks tell the Biblical stories of salvation history while counting down the days till Christmas. This year, start a new beloved Advent tradition that will be sure to last generations!
