HOW WILL WE BE REMEMBERED?
Memorial of Sts. Joachim and Anne, Parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Mt 13:16-17
The names of the parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and, therefore, grandparents of the Lord Jesus, Joachim and Anne, are not found in the four Gospels we have. The “Protoevangelium” of James, a devotional tract revered in the second century A.D., provides them. Veneration of St. Anne began in the sixth century A.D. while the devotion to St. Joachim originated in the eighth century A.D.
The Gospel today praises the faith of the Old Testament figures, Joachim and Anne included. They remained faithful to God though all they had were His promises. Their physical eyes did not see the fulfillment of what they hoped for – the coming of the Messiah – yet they believed in the word that God gave them. Such a faith is always worth emulating. Such a hope is heroic. May we have the same faith and hope always.
The world says, “To see is to believe.” But authentic faith in God says, “To believe is to see.” There are things in life we reach only by faith, which means that we can only see them if we first believe in them. The parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Old Testament figures believed in the Messiah though they did not see him. Because they believed, they contributed to the fulfillment of what they hoped for, and we benefit greatly from their fidelity.
The memorial of Sts. Joachim and Anne moves us to express our gratitude to our ancestors in the faith. These ancestors are not only God’s People in the Old Testament who remained steadfast in their faith and hope in God. They include also God’s People in the New Testament who passed on to us the faith, hope, and love they have in and for God. These include our own parents, grandparents, great grandparents, and all who constitute our genealogy. Some of them may have already gone ahead of us into God’s Kingdom. Others may still be living with us. For the departed, let us offer our loving pray. For the living, let us give our loving care.
We, too, will someday be, if not already are, grandparents to a long list of progeny. What kind of faith, hope, and love will we, or do we pass, on to our descendants? Nothing compares to the pride and joy of being remembered by our children for the steadfast faith, unwavering hope, and heroic love we had in our lifetime.
How do we wish to be remembered?
Mt 13:16-17
The names of the parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and, therefore, grandparents of the Lord Jesus, Joachim and Anne, are not found in the four Gospels we have. The “Protoevangelium” of James, a devotional tract revered in the second century A.D., provides them. Veneration of St. Anne began in the sixth century A.D. while the devotion to St. Joachim originated in the eighth century A.D.
The Gospel today praises the faith of the Old Testament figures, Joachim and Anne included. They remained faithful to God though all they had were His promises. Their physical eyes did not see the fulfillment of what they hoped for – the coming of the Messiah – yet they believed in the word that God gave them. Such a faith is always worth emulating. Such a hope is heroic. May we have the same faith and hope always.
The world says, “To see is to believe.” But authentic faith in God says, “To believe is to see.” There are things in life we reach only by faith, which means that we can only see them if we first believe in them. The parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Old Testament figures believed in the Messiah though they did not see him. Because they believed, they contributed to the fulfillment of what they hoped for, and we benefit greatly from their fidelity.
The memorial of Sts. Joachim and Anne moves us to express our gratitude to our ancestors in the faith. These ancestors are not only God’s People in the Old Testament who remained steadfast in their faith and hope in God. They include also God’s People in the New Testament who passed on to us the faith, hope, and love they have in and for God. These include our own parents, grandparents, great grandparents, and all who constitute our genealogy. Some of them may have already gone ahead of us into God’s Kingdom. Others may still be living with us. For the departed, let us offer our loving pray. For the living, let us give our loving care.
We, too, will someday be, if not already are, grandparents to a long list of progeny. What kind of faith, hope, and love will we, or do we pass, on to our descendants? Nothing compares to the pride and joy of being remembered by our children for the steadfast faith, unwavering hope, and heroic love we had in our lifetime.
How do we wish to be remembered?
posted by Fr. Bobby @ 3:00 PM
1 Comments
1 Comments:
Lord Jesus, may we be remembered as loving children of God and with faith curved in our hearts.
God bless po.
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