Matthew begins His Gospel and the entire New Testament canon with the ‘genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham’ (Mt 1:1). It is a list of names already present in the Hebrew Scriptures, to show the truth of history and the truth of human life. In fact, “the Lord’s genealogy consists of the true story that includes a number of figures who are problematic to say the least, and the sin of King David is also emphasized (cf. Mt 1:6). Yet, everything culminates with Mary and Christ (cf. Mt 1:16)” Then, there appears the truth of human life that passes from one generation to the next, bringing three things: a name that encompasses a unique identity and mission; belonging to a family and a people; and finally, the adherence of faith to the God of Israel. Genealogy is a literary genre, that is, a form suitable for conveying a very important message: no one gives life to himself, but receives it as a gift from others. In this case, the chosen people, and those who inherit the legacy. (Pope Francis, General Audience, 18 December 2024)