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Both Matthew's and Luke's Gospels provide genealogies for Jesus, a matter which fills with trepidation those who have to proclaim the Gospel at the liturgy, but which otherwise is of close to zero interest for contemporary Christians. Who really cares that Jesus descended from ". . . Rehoboam the father of Abijah, and Abijah the father of Asaph, and Asaph the father of Jehoshaphat . . ." (Matthew 1.7-8)? What difference does this make to our faith and to our understanding of Jesus?
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As in Luke's Gospel, St. Mark records Jesus' first public act after emerging from the desert as preaching in the Capernaum synagogue where his words met strong opposition. That, however, is where the similarity ends. Mark's Gospel is characterized by an abruptness; the scenes change quickly, and Jesus is a man in a hurry. Despite the rapid movement, the scenes are connected. There are patterns to the narrative, and each event is set in context.