Who or what has influenced your identity? As followers of Jesus, our identity is received, not achieved. Our identity is not achieved through our reputation, through deceit or through our own achievements. Our identity is received through the love of the Father, the invitation of Jesus and the presence of the Holy Spirit.

Matthew's second origin story of Jesus includes the reason God sent Jesus into the world. Jesus is God with us, here to rescue the world. The names of Jesus are the invitations of Jesus. We are invited into a story where God is here in Jesus and where God rescues the world in Jesus. Where do you need to accept the invitations of Jesus?

Who is writing your story? Matthew begins his good news with the origin story of Jesus. The opening litany of names points toward Jesus' origin story as meaningful, messy and miraculous. As follower of Jesus, Jesus' story must become our story. May we embrace and engage Matthew's witness of Jesus' genealogy this week.