Saints Joachim and Anne, parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary
(Exodus
32:14-24.30.34; Matthew 13:31-35)
Nothing is
said of the parents of Mary in the canonical gospels. Apocryphal scriptures relate that Anne and
Joachim were barren, prayed that they would have a child, and promised to
dedicate the child to the Lord. They go
on to say that at the age of three, Mary was duly delivered to the Temple where
she was raised. This story resembles
that of Elkanah and Hannah, the parents of Samuel. No doubt, Mary like Samuel, as children of
devout Jews, were horrified by the idolatry in today’s first reading.
Feeling
adrift without Moses, the Israelites pursue another course than faith in the
Lord. They choose the mythical power of
gold over the already demonstrated providence of God. In one sense the choice seems
incredible. How could any people think
that an inanimate object has life let alone authority? But gold has a way of mystifying the mind and
obscuring common sense. Ponzi schemes
have failed time and again. Yet gullible
souls continually forfeit money trying to exploit their latest incarnation.
Many of us
have to remind ourselves not to make money a god. Money seems so important that we want to get
and retain as much of it as possible. We
forget that it is only a means to an end, and that end requires other resources
much more than money. Although money
enables us to live, the fullness of life is to love deeply and committedly. It is to thank God for whatever we have and
to use what we have for the good of all.
