The December 17 issue of AMERICA features an article by Robert Maloney entitled “The Genealogy of Jesus Shadows and Lights in his Past”. He reviews the somewhat shocking elements in Jesus’ family tree and concludes “Matthew’s account of Jesus’ genealogy poses a number of challenges this Advent. It reminds us to make Advent a time of peaceful trust in God’s providence and to make Christmas a celebration in which we open our eyes, minds and hearts to the universal call of the newborn Lord.”