Jesus of Nazareth-The Infancy Naratives

In his new book, Jesus of Nazareth--The Infancy Narratives, the Holy Father goes into the heart of the infancy narratives in the Gospels and brings out some aspects of those narratives which are helpful in changing and molding our attitudes to life. He has followed in this book the same method he has employed in the other two books of the same name. He goes into an exegetical explanation of the passages, examines them in the background of OT references and then applies them to contemporary life. Compared with the other two books, this book is a short introduction to the Gospel accounts of the birth of the Lord. But there are some reflections which are fresh and beautiful. He calls this book" a small antechamber to the two earlier volumes on the figure and the message of Jesus of Nazareth."
On the genealogy presented in Mathew's Gospel, the Holy Father points out  that although the genealogy traces the male line, "prior to Mary who appears at the end, four women are mentioned by name: Tamar,Rahab,Ruth and the wife of Uriah."  He mentions first the  traditional interpretation emphasizing  the mission of Jesus as the justification of sinners since these were considered sinners. The Holy Father  then points out that 'through them the world of the Gentiles enters the genealogy of Jesus---his mission to Jews and Gentiles is made manifest."
"The final sentence turns the whole genealogy around. Mary is a new beginning.Her child does not originate from any man, but is a new creation,conceived through the Holy Spirit.'
"Our true genealogy is faith in Jesus , who gives us a new origin, who brings us to birth  from God."