Today, we celebrate the Memorial of Saints Joachim and Anne, the parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This holy couple is an important part of our faith tradition, not only because they are the parents of the Mother of God, but also because their story speaks to us about the importance of faith, hope, and perseverance.
In the first reading from Jeremiah, we hear God's call to return to him, to leave behind our sinful ways and return to the path of righteousness. God promises to guide us, to lead us back to himself, and to give us wise leaders who will shepherd us wisely. This reading reminds us that God is always reaching out to us, calling us back to himself, and urging us to turn away from our sinful ways.
In the Gospel reading from Matthew, Jesus teaches his disciples about the parable of the sower. This parable is a powerful reminder that faith is a gift that requires nurturing and care. The seed sown on the path represents those who hear the word of God without understanding it.
They may initially be excited about what is being said by him, but without roots of faith, they quickly fall away when faced with tribulation or persecution. The seed sown on rocky ground represents those who hear the word with joy, but lack depth of understanding. They may have moments of enthusiasm, but they soon fall away when faced with challenges.
The seed sown among thorns represents those who are distracted by worldly cares and riches. They may hear the word of God, but it is choked out by their own desires and anxieties. If we’re honest this can be all of us to some extent or degree, but hopefully those lapses in judgement, diligence and prudence or momentary. Our greatest concern is for those who are completely swept away by the worldly. And finally, the seed sown on rich soil represents those who truly understand the word of God. They receive it with humility and obedience, and bear fruit in abundance.
Today, as we celebrate the feast day of Saints Joachim and Anne, we are reminded that their faith was not without its challenges, yet they humbly submitted their cause to God. According to the Protoevangelium of James, Anne was barren for many years before an angel appeared to them, in what perhaps were their most dire days of desperation as regards their age and persistent infertility, announcing that they would have a child. They were old and advanced in years, but they did not give up hope because they knew they served and loved the God of wonders, “to whom nothing would be impossible” – words their future daughter, the Queen of Heaven would hear announced to her, when it was her turn to be visited by an angel. They trusted in God's promises and prayed for his will to be done and the angel promised Saint Anne that the child to be born would be spoken of throughout the entire world until the end of time. Saints Anne and Joachim promised that they would offer their newborn to the Lord and dedicate the child to the service of the Temple, Jerusalem’s most sacred house of worship.
As we reflect on their story, we are reminded that faith is not a one-time event, but a lifelong journey. We must nurture our faith like a garden, removing weeds of doubt and distraction, and watering it with prayer and devotion. It won’t just magically appear in the last years of our life. The grandparents of Jesus had been God-fearing all their lives, so that when they came to their most crucial hour, later in life, they would be wise and humble enough to entrust all their heartbreak and fragility to him. We must also trust in God's promises, even when they seem impossible or unattainable, now… not later, so that when push comes to shove, we will be ready for the battles which lay ahead. Saints Anne and Joachim, pray for us.
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