THEIR NAMES LIVE…

FEAST OF St JOACHIM & St ANNE

Sirach 44:1,10-15

1 Let us now praise famous men, and our fathers in their generations.10 And there are some who have no memorial, who have perished as though they had not lived; they have become as though they had not been born, and so have their children after them.11 But these were men of mercy, whose righteous deeds have not been forgotten;12 their prosperity will remain with their descendants, and their inheritance to their children’s children.13 Their descendants stand by the covenants; their children also, for their sake.
14 Their posterity will continue for ever, and their glory will not be blotted out.
15 Their bodies were buried in peace, and their name lives to all generations.

Matthew 13:16-17

16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear.
17 Truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.  

MEDITATION

TODAYS READINGS seek to secure the memories of the heroes of the faith who laid the groundwork for the salvation of man. These individuals may seem to have been insignificant members of the body of the Church, however these men and women have been gifted with the virtue of being merciful which is a voluntary fruit of charity. To be sure, the deeds and accomplishments of these fallen heroes have been bequeathed to their offspring, that is you and me and those who is to follow us. Saints Anne and Joachim’s story is similar to the story of Elizabeth and Zachariah who struggled to beget a child, but alas God gifted them with Mary in their old age whom they in turn gifted to the temple at the age of four that begun Mary’s waiting on the Messiah.

The challenge for you and I is the question of whether we are carriers and transmitters of the virtue of mercy and faith on to our offspring. Our children should be the first recipients of our gift of love and charity to bless their path unto salvation. Our ability to be merciful should be a voluntary spontaneous act that has been formed and informed by love and what we have seen and heard and exemplified by the death and ressurection of our Lord Jesus Christ so that our names may live on and dwell in the hearts and minds of our offspring. 

LET US PRAY: Psalms 132:11,13-14,17-18

11 The LORD swore to David a sure oath from which he will not turn back: “One of the sons of your body I will set on your throne.13 For the LORD has chosen Zion; he has desired it for his habitation:
14 “This is my resting place for ever; here I will dwell, for I have desired it.17 There I will make a horn to sprout for David; I have prepared a lamp for my anointed.
18 His enemies I will clothe with shame, but upon himself his crown will shed its luster.”

Author. Henry R SYLVESTER Note: The daily scripture readings are taken from the Roman Missal which the Catholic Church use in the daily Celebration of the Holy Eucharist throughout the world.Some weekly readings may differ because of the celebration of local feast days.