SS JOACHIM AND ANNE, PARENTS OF THE B.V.M. (Memorial) White

First Reading: Jer 14:17b-22; Psalm: 79 R. v. 9bc; Gospel: Mt 13:36-43

SAINTS JOACHIM AND ANNE: PARENTAL MODELS

The co-existence of the wheat and the weed in the parable of Jesus is a proof that righteousness of life and meriting heaven is not an easy road. If the righteous whom Jesus called the sons of the kingdom would have to mingle with the doers of evil until the Day of Judgment; this would mean that life entirely is bristled with trials and temptations. Righteousness therefore would not be something easy to come by. This alone justifies the necessity of celebrating the saints in heaven who persevered through the temptations and trials of life and triumphed; meriting the blessings of heaven.

Saints Joachim and Anne, parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary passed through the test of the vices of the world. Obviously, to be granted the merit of being parents to the future mother of the Son of God is a testament to their commitment to righteous living despite being exposed to the evil and temptations of the world. According to the apocryphal gospel of St James, Joachim and Anne were away from home when they received a message from an angel that Anne was with child. This child happened to be Mary, the future mother of our Saviour Jesus Christ.  

Tradition has it that Joachim and Anne offered Mary to the service of the temple when Mary was three years old. They are therefore role models to parents on how they ought to bring up their children in the ways of the Lord through righteous living and dedication to God in prayer. Parents should be like the wheat amidst their children. They should have positive and not negative influence on them. They should not be a source of scandal to their family thereby sapping from them the moral nutrients required for their spiritual growth. So that on the Day of Judgment, no one will be lost to the fires of hell.

PRAYER FOR THE DAY

Lord Jesus, we pray for the grace to be good influence to one another. Amen.