Memorial of Saints Joachim and Anne, parents of the
Blessed Virgin Mary
(Exodus 20:1-17; Matthew 13:18-23)
Grandparents sometimes kid, “If we knew how much fun it
would be to be grandparents, we wouldn’t have bothered having children but have
had grandchildren right off.” They are
referring to the joy of seeing the wonder of children without all the responsibilities
of assuring their growth. But
increasingly grandparents take on those responsibilities as their own children give
birth outside of marriage. They will
find a necessary resource for the task in today’s first reading.
The Ten Commandments, which the first reading dictates,
serve as the basis of a true life.
Parents are wise to teach them to their children as early as
possible. Perhaps more importantly, they
have to model them so the tragedy of one-parent families does not occur often.
Today we celebrate Saints Joachim and Anne, the parents of
the Blessed Virgin Mary and the grandparents of Jesus. Although they are known them strictly through
legend, we can assume that they were God-loving people who practiced the Ten
Commandments and handed them on to their children and grandchildren.
