The Holy Gospel according to Matthew (13:16-17).
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Blessed are your eyes, because they see, and your ears, because they hear.
Amen, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
Reflection: Today is the Memorial of Saints Joachim and Anne, Parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This Gospel is from the readings for the Memorial. The Gospels tell us nothing about the Blessed Virgin Mary’s parents, not even their names. The Gospels of Matthew and Luke provide us with a family history of Jesus, but not a family history of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Even though we do not have a source that proves Sts. Joachim and Anne existed, we know that the Blessed Virgin Mary had a father and mother. What we know, according to Christian tradition, is found in the Protoevangelium of James, which is an unsanctioned, apocryphal writing from the second century AD. Devotion to Sts. Joachim and Anne have existed since the early centuries of the Church. Saints Joachim and Anne presented their little girl to the temple in thanksgiving for the gift God had given them through her birth.
Mary had good, faithful parents who raised her with a love and devotion to God like none other except Jesus Christ Himself. Joachim and Anne serve as role models for parents and both deserve to be honored and emulated for their devotion to God and the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God.
Since Saints Joachim and Anne were the grandparents of Jesus, this is also the “feast of grandparents.” It reminds grandparents of their responsibility to establish a tone for generations to come: They must make the traditions of family and faith live and offer them as a promise to their children and grandchildren.
Reflecting on this Gospel, much of what our Church and faith teaches remains mysterious and unreachable to those who are not seeking after God’s will. The Spirit’s work to illuminate Scripture comes only to those who have faith in Jesus! Through the Holy Spirit, Jesus still is helping the earnest follower, the dedicated disciple, to know his will.
Action for the Day: If you are a parent or a grandparent, pray for the grace to imitate the example of Sts. Joachim and Anne and do all that you can so that your children and grandchildren might flourish as the Blessed Virgin Mary did.
Audio Reflection:
Thank you, Deacon Mike.