From Mr F. Galea

I refer to the article “Jesus’ dysfunctional family tree” (TMIS, 26 December). I might have missed the point as the rationale of the article meanders too much to be the epitome of clarity. In fact I think it is misleading in spite of the fact that it is full of good intentions. No mention is made of what the Apostles’ Creed delineates about the birth of Jesus.

Much ado is made of Matthew’s genealogy of Jesus, and of the unholy, scheming men and women in this genealogy. Of course they are there, all these people!

But all of Raymond Brown’s fantasizing would only have been relevant if the phrase with which Matthew ends his genealogy were to be taken literally:

And Jacob begot Joseph, the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called the Christ. (Matthew ch. 1 v. 16)

Jesus Christ, the Son of God has got nothing to do with (Saint) Joseph’s lineage. We Catholics believe that Mary was with child through the Holy Spirit and Joseph’s presence was needed for appearances’ sake. Joseph’s lineage ends with him since there are no blood-ties with Jesus Christ.

As regards the very imperfect (to say the least) personages who held, hold and will hold sway in Christ’s Church throughout the ages, well, they were, are and will be only human. As such it is normal for them to act like other humans with all their strengths and weaknesses. Only Jesus is Divine and therefore perfect. It is wrong, bigoted and pharisaic to expect perfection from those who are imperfect because they are human.

The point of it all is that we human beings tend to take subjective decisions first then try to find objective rhetoric to justify these subjective decisions and positions. People ought to have the courage to state that they have lost their faith because they have lost their faith and stop pointing at the imperfections of others in the Church to cover up their loss of faith.

Frank Galea

ZEBBUG