Friday, July 26, 2024

Memorial of Saints Joachim and Anne, parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary

(Jeremiah 3:14-17; Matthew 12:18-23)

Today’s feast and both Scripture readings proclaim saintly people.  The tradition of Joachim and Anne tells of a barren couple who prayed for children.  The Lord granted them the Blessed Virgin Mary as fruit of their union.

In the first reading Jeremiah predicts that the Lord will return a remnant of Jews from exile.  These men and women will learn holiness from righteous leaders.  The gospel highlights various outcomes for hearers of the word of God.  One group puts the word into practice so that it produces benefits for them and others.

Holiness is a matter of priority.  Those who have attained it put God first over wealth, pleasure, and fame.  They will live forever because they belong to the eternal God.

Wednesday, July 26, 2023

Memorial of Saints Joachim and Anne, parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary     

(Exodus 16:1-5.9-15; Matthew 13:10-17)

A senior citizen tries to pass on the Catholic faith to his adolescent grandson.  Whenever the youth spends a weekend with him, he invariably takes him to Sunday mass.  The youth tells him that he enjoys the experience.  However, he has yet to ask if he might join the Church.  Today as we honor Saints Anne and Joachim, the parents of Mary and thus the grandparents of Jesus, we may speculate on their contribution to Jesus’ faith commitment.  

 It may be presumed that Anne and Joachim raised Mary as a devout Jew.  They taught her how to wait upon the Lord and instructed her not to follow the winds of the time.  They reminded Mary of how God loves His people and will aid them in distress.  Mary, in turn, passed on these instructions to Jesus who more than anyone else knew of God’s love. 

Catholic grandparents today often have to teach their grandchildren the rudiments faith.  Their own children have often been alienated from God and the Church. This second generation understands religion as rites marking the passage of time and rules dictating how one should live.  Where this is the case, grandparents need to convey the truth of our faith.  They must tell their children how faith is the key to life.  It assures us of the Creator’s love and enlightens us of His will.

Tuesday, July 26, 2022

 Memorial of Saints Joachim and Ann, parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary

(Jeremiah 14:17-22; Matthew 13:36-43)

Many like to think of Saints Joachim and Anne as the grandparents of Jesus.  They likely do so because grandparents today are often principal influences on the religious development of children.  The Church, on the other hand, name Joachim and Anne as only “the parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary.”  Because all that is said of them comes from apocryphal stories, it need not treat them at all.  Yet they provide a lens for considering Christ’s role in the world.

Today’s first reading should remind us of what is happening in Ukraine.  Jeremiah describes the complete destruction of Jerusalem much like what has happened in Mariupol and other Ukrainian cities.  That country is being demolished to the discouragement of the people.  In the reading the prophet can only cry to God in penitence and supplication.

After World War II our grandparents left us a legacy of hope.  They struggled to overcome the tyranny of the Nazis and of the Communists.  Trusting in the Lord, they structured a peaceful world with the United Nations as a principal resource.  It was obviously not a perfect arrangement.  Today we Christians turn again to Christ with an appeal for wisdom, strength, and patience.  We see in him the means of grace to shape a peace based on justice in the Ukraine.

Monday, July 26, 2021

 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.

Friday, July 26, 2019

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 the duties of child-rearing 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 truly good life.  Parents are wise to teach them to their children as early as possible.  More importantly, they have to model them so that children rightly assimilate them as habits.

Today we celebrate Saints Joachim and Anne, the parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the grandparents of Jesus.  We know them only through what might be called legend.  Still we can assume that they were God-loving people who did more than recite the Ten Commandments.   They practiced them as well and handed them on to their children and grandchildren.

Thursday, July 26, 2018

Memorial of Saints Joachim and Anne, parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary

(Jeremiah 2: 1-3.7-8.12-13; Matthew 13:10-17)

Anne and Joachim are recognized as the parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  They are not mentioned in Scripture and known only from the dubitable “Gospel of James.” It is fashionable today to think of them as the grandparents of Jesus, but there is no link of them to him at all.  Still positive conjectures may be made of them.  Because Mary is knowledgeable of the Old Testament, it is likely that Anne and Joachim formed her in this way.  They probably avoided the pitfalls to which today’s readings refer.

Jeremiah’s oracle speaks of Israel having grown cynical with age.  The people have come to take for granted the goodness of God.  They no longer dream that their faithfulness to the Covenant promises them a glorious future.  In the gospel Jesus tells his disciples that many hear his parables not as the metaphors that he intends but as riddles.  Their minds have been closed with the passing of years to the possibilities that God offers in Jesus.

We must guard against the pitfalls of cynicism and despair.  It may seem incredible that we will be raised from the dead with all other followers of Jesus’ law of love.  But that has been the promise since Jesus’ own resurrection.  Now we must learn from him how to love truly from the heart.

Wednesday, July 26, 2017

Memorial of Saints Joachim and Anne, parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary    

(Exodus 16:1-5.9-15; Matthew 13:10-17)

A senior citizen tries to pass on the Catholic faith to his adolescent grandson.  When the youth spends a weekend with him, he invariably takes him to Sunday mass.  The youth tells him that he enjoys the experience; however, he has yet to express interest in committing himself to the Church.  Today as we honor Saints Anne and Joachim, the parents of Mary and thus the grandparents of Jesus, we may speculate on their contribution to Jesus’ faith commitment.  

It may be presumed that Anne and Joachim raised Mary as a devout Jew.  They taught her how to wait upon the Lord and instructed her not to follow the winds of the time.  They reminded Mary of how God loves His people and will come to their aid in distress.  Mary, in turn, passed on these instructions to Jesus who perfectly fulfilled God’s will by his sacrifice on the cross.

Catholic grandparents today often have to teach their grandchildren the rudiments faith.  Their own children have often become so alienated from God and the Church that they understand religion as a set of dispensable rites to mark the passage of time.  Where this is the case, grandparents need to convey how human nature is distorted by sin but redeemed by Jesus’ death and resurrection.  They also want to show how heeding Jesus’ words leads to happiness and how embracing him in the sacraments will give them the strength to listen and follow.

Tuesday, July 26, 2016

Memorial of Saints Joachim and Anne, Parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary

(Jeremiah 14:17-22; Matthew 13:36-43)

According to a non-canonical gospel Joachim and Anne are the parents of Mary.  Nothing is known about them with certainty, not even their names.   Of course, Mary had to have parents.  Because she is so saintly, it is likely that her parents were good people.  They may serve as a model for the good seed in today’s gospel.

The passage explains the parable of the wheat and the weeds.  The good seed produces a brilliant harvest.  After the weeds have been picked and discarded, the harvest appears as glorious as gold.  Such are the lives of the good.  They may be as humble as dirt, but whatever they do bears the fragrance of love for others.

This feast of Joachim and Anne, the grandparents of Jesus, provide us an opportunity to reflect on the role of our grandparents in our faith development.  Some of us have had the blessing of pious grandparents caring and praying for us.  Often enough our grandparents, chastened by experience, have demonstrated a sure and steady faith.  Their peace has challenged the presumption that the world is necessarily becoming wiser and happier.

Friday, July 26, 2013

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.

Thursday, July 26, 2012

Memorial of Saints Joachim and Anne, parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary

(Jeremiah 2: 1-3.7-8.12-13; Matthew 13:10-17)

A senior citizen tries to pass on the Catholic faith to his adolescent grandson. When the youth spends a weekend with him, he invariably takes him to Sunday mass. The youth tells him that he enjoys the experience. However, not living in a home where the faith is practiced, he has yet to express desire to commit himself to the Church. Today as we honor Saints Anne and Joachim, the parents of Mary and grandparents of Jesus, we may speculate on their contribution to Jesus’ faith commitment.

It may be presumed that Anne and Joachim raised Mary as a devout Jew. Unlike the people of ancient Jerusalem, whom the prophet Jeremiah decries in the first reading, Anne and Joachim taught Mary to wait upon the Lord. They instructed her not to follow the winds of the time, but to always remember how God loves His people and will save them in distress. Mary, in turn, passed on this instruction to Jesus who perfectly fulfilled God’s will with his sacrifice in obedience until death.

Catholic grandparents will, often enough, have to take on the responsibility of teaching their grandchildren the faith. Their children have often become so estranged from belief that they understand religion as no more than a set of rites to mark the passage of time. Where this is the case, grandparents need to convey the truths to grandchildren that human nature has been distorted by sin but has been redeemed by Jesus. They will hopefully show them that heeding Jesus’ words leads to happiness and embracing his company in the sacraments gives the strength to do so.

Monday, July 26, 2010

Memorial of Saints Joachim and Anne, parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary

(Jeremiah 13:1-11; Matthew 13:31-35)

Although Saints Joachim and Anne are named in the missal as the parents of Mary, more and more Catholics regard them as the grandparents of Jesus. In fact, we increasingly think of today as the feast day of all grandparents.

One pleasant memory that many have of their grandparents is entering their home and smelling the aroma of fermenting yeast. Grandmothers used the yeast for making their own bread or tortillas. Store-bought varieties, which children were accustomed to consuming, could never compare to the fresh, chewy bread that children ate at their grandparents’.

Jesus uses the image of yeast in the gospel today to describe the working of God’s Kingdom. Just as a bit of yeast is enough leaven to make all the bread that a household requires, so his inaugurating the Kingdom two thousand years ago redeems all history. We need only to commit ourselves to the Kingdom’s justice and love to thrive in the redemption it conveys.