Homily: Feast of Saints Joachim and Anne

Homily: Feast of Saints Joachim and Anne (Mt. 13:36-43) “Grandparents Day.”

The names of the Blessed Virgin Mary’s parents are never given in the scriptures. Her origins are the thing of legend. The story of her birth is patterned after so many miraculous births in the Bible. She was the daughter of elderly parents who were seemingly sterile. An angel appeared to Joachim and Ann to tell them of a child to be born to them.

What is unusual in Mary’s birth story, of course her being a daughter not a son. Usually, when great figures in salvation history appear they are universally male. If there is a miraculous birth, then this is a given. We think of men like Samson, Samuel, John the Baptist for example.

What is the church trying to emphasize with this feast? What the church is trying to say is that Jesus’ mother was not simply a vessel which God used to bring a child into the world. She had special attributes. She, for example, was very religious from the start of her life.

She was single hearted. This purity of heart is shown when the Angel Gabriel appears to Mary to tell her that she will give birth to the Messiah. She does not hesitate but agrees right away.

Children are a product of their home life. Mary benefitted from the great faith of Joachim and Ann. Jesus was taught many lessons from his mother. If we want to know what Jesus was taught by Mary, we need only read the Canticle of Mary and meditate on it. Jesus was taught about peace and justice, and we hear that in his preaching.

Reflection Questions:

1.   What did my grandparents teach me about faith? Were they important in my life story?

2.   Have I ever taken time to reflect on the Canticle of Mary? Can I look at it today?

Dear Parishioners,

Pope Francis is traveling in Canada right now to apologize to indigenous people for the many crimes committed against native children in state sponsored schools. As many as 150,000 children were taken away from their parents and sent to boarding schools where they were stripped of their language and customs to push them into mainstream society. Unfortunately, the church was a willing participant in this crime by administering many of these schools. The question is whether Pope Francis’ gesture is too little too late.

          Reparations are being paid to families who have lost children and to victims who were traumatized. How does one calculate a cost for what has happened?

          We, as a church must go through the steps of Reconciliation in order have hope that there may be healing. One step has been taken on a long journey.

          May Our Lady of Sorrows pray for us today.

          Fr. Mark