Memorial of Saint Joachim and Saint Anne,
parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Lectionary:
398
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| Sts Joachim and Anne, Parents of Our Lady. |
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| Jeremiah. |
This word of the LORD came to me:
Go, cry out this message forJerusalem
I remember the devotion of your youth,
how you loved me as a bride,
Following me in the desert,
in a land unsown.
Sacred to the LORD wasIsrael
the first fruits of his harvest;
Should any presume to partake of them,
evil would befall them, says the LORD.
When I brought you into the garden land
to eat its goodly fruits,
You entered and defiled my land,
you made my heritage loathsome.
The priests asked not,
"Where is the LORD?"
Those who dealt with the law knew me not:
the shepherds rebelled against me.
The prophets prophesied by Baal,
and went after useless idols.
Be amazed at this, O heavens,
and shudder with sheer horror, says the LORD.
Two evils have my people done:
they have forsaken me, the source of living waters;
They have dug themselves cisterns,
broken cisterns, that hold no water.
Go, cry out this message for
I remember the devotion of your youth,
how you loved me as a bride,
Following me in the desert,
in a land unsown.
Sacred to the LORD was
the first fruits of his harvest;
Should any presume to partake of them,
evil would befall them, says the LORD.
When I brought you into the garden land
to eat its goodly fruits,
You entered and defiled my land,
you made my heritage loathsome.
The priests asked not,
"Where is the LORD?"
Those who dealt with the law knew me not:
the shepherds rebelled against me.
The prophets prophesied by Baal,
and went after useless idols.
Be amazed at this, O heavens,
and shudder with sheer horror, says the LORD.
Two evils have my people done:
they have forsaken me, the source of living waters;
They have dug themselves cisterns,
broken cisterns, that hold no water.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 36:6-7ab, 8-9, 10-11
R. (10a) With you is the fountain of
life, O Lord.
O LORD, your mercy reaches to heaven;
your faithfulness, to the clouds.
Your justice is like the mountains of God;
your judgments, like the mighty deep.
R. With you is the fountain of life, O Lord.
How precious is your mercy, O God!
The children of men take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
They have their fill of the prime gifts of your house;
from your delightful stream you give them to drink.
R. With you is the fountain of life, O Lord.
For with you is the fountain of life,
and in your light we see light.
Keep up your mercy toward your friends,
your just defense of the upright of heart.
R. With you is the fountain of life, O Lord.
O LORD, your mercy reaches to heaven;
your faithfulness, to the clouds.
Your justice is like the mountains of God;
your judgments, like the mighty deep.
R. With you is the fountain of life, O Lord.
How precious is your mercy, O God!
The children of men take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
They have their fill of the prime gifts of your house;
from your delightful stream you give them to drink.
R. With you is the fountain of life, O Lord.
For with you is the fountain of life,
and in your light we see light.
Keep up your mercy toward your friends,
your just defense of the upright of heart.
R. With you is the fountain of life, O Lord.
Gospel Mt 13:10-17
The disciples approached Jesus and said,
"Why do you speak to the crowd in parables?"
He said to them in reply,
"Because knowledge of the mysteries of the Kingdom of heaven
has been granted to you, but to them it has not been granted.
To anyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich;
from anyone who has not, even what he has will be taken away.
This is why I speak to them in parables, because
they look but do not see and hear but do not listen or understand.
Isaiah's prophecy is fulfilled in them, which says:
You shall indeed hear but not understand,
you shall indeed look but never see.
Gross is the heart of this people,
they will hardly hear with their ears,
they have closed their eyes,
lest they see with their eyes
and hear with their ears
and understand with their hearts and be converted
and I heal them.
"But blessed are your eyes, because they see,
and your ears, because they hear.
Amen, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people
longed to see what you see but did not see it,
and to hear what you hear but did not hear it."
"Why do you speak to the crowd in parables?"
He said to them in reply,
"Because knowledge of the mysteries of the Kingdom of heaven
has been granted to you, but to them it has not been granted.
To anyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich;
from anyone who has not, even what he has will be taken away.
This is why I speak to them in parables, because
they look but do not see and hear but do not listen or understand.
Isaiah's prophecy is fulfilled in them, which says:
You shall indeed hear but not understand,
you shall indeed look but never see.
Gross is the heart of this people,
they will hardly hear with their ears,
they have closed their eyes,
lest they see with their eyes
and hear with their ears
and understand with their hearts and be converted
and I heal them.
"But blessed are your eyes, because they see,
and your ears, because they hear.
Amen, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people
longed to see what you see but did not see it,
and to hear what you hear but did not hear it."
Meditation: "Many longed to see and hear what you hear"
Do you want to grow in your knowledge of
God? Saint Augustine of Hippo once said: "I believe, in order to
understand; and I understand, the better to believe." Both faith and
understanding are gifts of the Holy Spirit that enable us to hear God's word
with clarity so we can know God better and grow in the knowledge of his love
and truth. Jesus, however, had to warn his disciples that not everyone would
understand his teaching. The prophet Isaiah had warned that some would hear
God's word, but not believe, some would see God's actions and miracles, and
remained unconvinced. Ironically some of the greatest skeptics of Jesus'
teaching and miracles were the learned scribes and Pharisess who prided
themselves on their knowledge of scripture and the law of Moses. They heard
Jesus' parables and saw the great signs and miracles which he performed, but
they refused to accept both Jesus and his message. How could they "hear
and never understand" and "see but never perceive"? They were
spiritually blind and deaf because their hearts were closed and their minds
were blocked by pride and prejudice. How could a man from There is only one thing that can open a closed, confused, and divided mind – a broken heart and humble spirit! The word disciple means one who is willing to learn and ready to submit to the wisdom and truth which comes from God. Psalm 119 expresses the joy and delight of a disciple who loves God's word and who embraces it with trust and obedience. "Oh, how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day. Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies, for it is ever with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers, for your testimonies are my meditation." (Psalm 119:97-99)
God can only reveal the secrets of his kingdom to the humble and trusting person who acknowledges their need for God and for his truth. The parables of Jesus will enlighten us if we approach them with an open mind and heart, ready to let them challenge us. If we approach God's word with indifference, skepticism, and disbelief, then we, too, may "hear but not understand" and "see but not perceive." God's word can only take root in a receptive heart that is ready to believe and willing to submit. If we want to hear and to understand God's word, we must listen with reverence and faith. Do you believe God's word and do you submit to it with trust and reverence?
Jerome, an early church bible scholar who lived between 342-419 AD, wrote: "You are reading [the scriptures]? No.Your betrothed is talking to you. It is your betrothed, that is, Christ, who is united with you. He tears you away from the solitude of the desert and brings you into his home, saying to you, 'Enter into the joy of your Master.'"
"Holy Spirit, be my teacher and guide. Open my ears to hear God's word and open my eyes to understand God's action in my life. May my heart never grow dull and may my ears never tire of listening to the voice of Christ."
.jpg) Fighting the Good Fight of Faith |
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Memorial of Saint Joachim and Saint Anne, parents of the
Blessed Virgin Mary
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The disciples approached Jesus and said, "Why do you speak to them in parables?" He said to them in reply, "Because knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven has been granted to you, but to them it has not been granted. To anyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; from anyone who has not, even what he has will be taken away. This is why I speak to them in parables, because they look but do not see and hear but do not listen or understand. Isaiah´s prophecy is fulfilled in them, which says: You shall indeed hear but not understand you shall indeed look but never see. Gross is the heart of this people, they will hardly hear with their ears, they have closed their eyes, lest they see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and be converted, and I heal them. "But blessed are your eyes, because they see, and your ears, because they hear. Amen, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it." Introductory Prayer: Lord, my prayer will “work” only if I have humility in your presence. So I am approaching you with meekness and humility of heart. I have an infinite need for you and your grace. Thinking about this helps me grow in humility. I trust in you and your grace. Thank you for the unfathomable gift of your love. Petition: Increase my faith, hope and love, Lord. 1. Faith, Hope and Love Remain: What does the Lord mean when he says that “to anyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich” or that “from anyone who has not, even what he has will be taken away”? He is referring to spiritual goods rather than material ones. Grace, faith, hope and love are all spiritual goods. To anyone who has them, more will be given. When you exercise your faith, your hope and your love, they increase in your soul. The result? You grow rich in grace. When you do not exercise your faith, hope and love, you lose all because the material world is passing away. As 2. Seeing with New Eyes: “You shall indeed hear but not understand; you shall indeed look but never see.” We can view the world in a natural way or in a supernatural way. Faith, hope and love allow us to view the world supernaturally. A natural way of seeing things limits us in a thousand ways, because the natural universe is limited, passing and temporary. The supernatural world seen through faith is unlimited, coming to fulfillment and lasting forever. Without faith we will hear but not understand, look intently but never see. 3. A Fighting Heart: Only when we fight to imitate Christ do we truly understand these words: “Blessed are your eyes, because they see, and your ears, because they hear.” This may be hard to understand, but it is so. To know Jesus, it is necessary to be like him. The moment we begin to fight for love of him we begin to be like him, and thus we begin to know him. To have a heart like Jesus’ it is necessary to fight and suffer – to fight and suffer without cowardice, without taking time out and without discouragement. Conversation with Christ: Lord, grant me the grace to fight with a spirit of faith, hope and love. I want to increase in these virtues and begin to see the world with your eyes – the eyes of the new man or woman in Christ. With you my future is always brighter than my past, filled with more hope and greater promise. Resolution: Today, I will strive to see persons, actions and events from the viewpoint of faith. |
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You are
the source of life, O Lord
‘Blessed
are your eyes because they see ...’
The reading from Jeremiah makes us question how we use God’s
gifts, acknowledging the wealth of the earth and our responsibility to use it
well for all people. ‘I brought you to a country of plenty … but you defiled my
country ... Those skilled in the Law did not know me ... my people have
exchanged their Glory for the Useless One.’
Consider today’s world. Have our lawmakers displayed discernment in protecting our environment? Have they ensured a fair distribution of the world’s wealth? Or have they exchanged their wisdom for the lure of profits and their compassion for the glamour of wealth?
As Christians where does our responsibility lie? How can we influence our leaders and lawmakers to work for the wellbeing of all the earth and its people?
Consider today’s world. Have our lawmakers displayed discernment in protecting our environment? Have they ensured a fair distribution of the world’s wealth? Or have they exchanged their wisdom for the lure of profits and their compassion for the glamour of wealth?
As Christians where does our responsibility lie? How can we influence our leaders and lawmakers to work for the wellbeing of all the earth and its people?
THOUGHT FOR TODAY
The way we habitually imagine ourselves, our fellow men and what we call God is one of the most formative factors in life. Let anyone picture in his or her imagination the kind of person they long to be, and view that picture frequently and steadily enough, and they will be drawn towards it. Within the imagination resides much of the power to control our health, achieve our goals and develop our characters.
Christ knew the power of a fired imagination to motivate people. He enrolled as learners a group of individuals whose horizons were bounded by a country lake. He led them to visualise themselves as the salt of the earth and the light of the world. He filled their imaginations with pictures of themselves carrying his message to 'the uttermost parts of the earth'.
- The Age, Saturday Reflection: 10 August 1985
From A Canopy of Stars: Some Reflections for the Journey by Fr Christopher Gleeson SJ [David Lovell Publishing 2003]
www.churchresources.info
MINUTE MEDITATIONS
Moving Forward
The desire to be a better person, to
grow in love, compassion and forgiveness is the Word within urging us to grow
into the likeness of God for which we have been created. When we actually
engage in forgiveness, compassion and love, it is the Christ consciousness
breaking through our lives.
—
from Wake Up to God’s
Word
July 26
Sts. Joachim and Anne
In the Scriptures, Matthew and Luke
furnish a legal family history of Jesus, tracing ancestry to show that Jesus is
the culmination of great promises. Not only is his mother’s family neglected,
we also know nothing factual about them except that they existed. Even the
names Joachim and Anne come from a legendary source written more than a century after
Jesus died.
The
heroism and holiness of these people, however, is inferred from the whole
family atmosphere around Mary in the Scriptures. Whether we rely on the legends
about Mary’s childhood or make guesses from the information in the Bible, we
see in her a fulfillment of many generations of prayerful persons, herself
steeped in the religious traditions of her people.The strong character of Mary in making decisions, her continuous practice of prayer, her devotion to the laws of her faith, her steadiness at moments of crisis, and her devotion to her relatives—all indicate a close-knit, loving family that looked forward to the next generation even while retaining the best of the past.
Joachim and Anne—whether these are their real names or not—represent that entire quiet series of generations who faithfully perform their duties, practice their faith and establish an atmosphere for the coming of the Messiah, but remain obscure.
Comment:
This is the “feast of grandparents.” It reminds grandparents of their responsibility to establish a tone for generations to come: They must make the traditions live and offer them as a promise to little children. But the feast has a message for the younger generation as well. It reminds the young that older people’s greater perspective, depth of experience and appreciation of life’s profound rhythms are all part of a wisdom not to be taken lightly or ignored.
This is the “feast of grandparents.” It reminds grandparents of their responsibility to establish a tone for generations to come: They must make the traditions live and offer them as a promise to little children. But the feast has a message for the younger generation as well. It reminds the young that older people’s greater perspective, depth of experience and appreciation of life’s profound rhythms are all part of a wisdom not to be taken lightly or ignored.
Quote:
“...[T]he family is the foundation of society. In it the various generations come together and help one another to grow wise and to harmonize personal rights with the other requirements of social life” (Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World, 52).
“...[T]he family is the foundation of society. In it the various generations come together and help one another to grow wise and to harmonize personal rights with the other requirements of social life” (Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World, 52).
ST. JOACHIM AND ST. ANNE, PARENTS OF
THE VIRGIN MARY, PROTECTORS OF THE ORDER (M)
Liturgy:
Thursday, July 26, 2012
The names of the
parents of Mary are known from the apocryphal “Proto-Gospel of James” (II
century). The cult to Saint Anne is documented in the East in the VI century,
in the West in the X century; that of Saint Joachim in the XIV century. In the
Byzantine rite the 25 of July reminds us the dedication in Constantinople
of a Basilica in honour of Saint Anne.
According to
tradition, Saint Anne was born in Bethlehem Jerusalem
The Carmelite Order
celebrates, with special devotion its Saints, gathering in them the most living
and genuine expression of the Charism and the spirituality of the Order
throughout the centuries. The feast of the Protectors of the Order is
celebrated with special solemnity that is the feast of Saints Joseph, Joachim
and Anne.
LECTIO: SAINTS JOACHIM AND ANN, PARENTS
OF MARY
Lectio:
Thursday, July 26,
2012
1) Opening prayer
Lord, God of our
fathers,
through Saints Joachim and Anne
You gave us the Mother of Your Incarnate Son.
May their prayers help us
to attain the salvation
You promised to Your people. Amen.
through Saints Joachim and Anne
You gave us the Mother of Your Incarnate Son.
May their prayers help us
to attain the salvation
You promised to Your people. Amen.
2) Gospel Reading
'But blessed are your
eyes because they see, your ears because they hear! In truth I tell you, many
prophets and upright people longed to see what you see, and never saw it; to
hear what you hear, and never heard it.
3) Reflection
• Matthew 13,16-17: “But blessed are your eyes because they see, your ears
because they hear“. All
this explains the last phrase: “But blessed
are your eyes because they see your ears because they hear. In truth I tell
you, many prophets and upright people longed to see what you see and never saw
it, to hear what you hear and never heard it!”
• The
Parables: a new way of speaking to the people about God. People remained impressed about
the way in which Jesus taught. “A new way of teaching! Given with authority!
Different from that of the Scribes! (Mk 7,28). Jesus had a great capacity for
finding very simple images to compare the things of God with the things of life
which people knew and experienced in the daily struggle to survive. This
presupposes two things: to be inside the things of the life of the people, and
to be inside the things of God, of the Kingdom of God
4) Personal questions
• Jesus says: “To you
it has been granted to know the mysteries of the Kingdom”. When I read the
Gospels am I like those who understand nothing or like those to whom it has
been granted to know the Kingdom?
• Which is the parable of Jesus with which I identify myself more? Why?
• Which is the parable of Jesus with which I identify myself more? Why?
5) Concluding Prayer
Yahweh, your faithful
love is in the heavens,
your constancy reaches to the clouds,
your saving justice is like towering mountains,
your judgements like the mighty deep. (Ps 36,5-6
your constancy reaches to the clouds,
your saving justice is like towering mountains,
your judgements like the mighty deep. (Ps 36,5-6
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| Anne and Mary. |
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