+ Today we celebrate the feasts of Sts. Joachim and Ann, the parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary and grandparents of Jesus. Ann bore Mary when she was on in years. It is said that when Joachim was away on a trip an angel appeared to both he and Ann separately announcing the fact that they would be parents of a very special girl. When Mary was three years old, Joachim and Ann presented Mary in the temple for the Lord's service. Devotion to Ann began very early in the Eastern Church, but it was not until the 16th century did it spread to the West and shrine began to be built to her. The traditional statue of Ann seated, speaking with the child Mary, standing by her side is well known throughout the world now!
The first reading today speaks well of the godly couple: Joachim and Ann: godly persons whose virtues have not been forgotten; their wealth remaining in their families, their heritage with their descendants; at gatherings their wisdom is retold, and the assembly proclaims their praise. The alleluia verse takes up the theme: They yearned for the comforting of Israel and the Holy Spirit rested on them. Their grandchild would be the one true and lasting comfort of not only Israel but of the whole world. And the gospel passage certainly refers to these holy persons who saw and heard what many prophets and righteous people long to see and hear but did not!
May we be among the one who both see and hear their grandson, Jesus Christ, today – beginning right at this Mass – and then allow that to make a real difference in the way we live our day, as he travels with us along our paths living deep in our souls!
God will give him the throne of David his father!
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