We celebrate today the feast of the parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary: Joachim and Anne. They are not mentioned in the New Testament and all we know about them comes from an apocryphal writing of St. James. And even then, devotion to them did not begin until about the eighth century as a result of devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
It is said that this couple was childless until very late in their lives, when an angel appeared to Anne and told her she would bear a child who would be of great import and fame to the whole world. Joachim went out into the desert to pray for God's intervention in their lives at the time and he came home to Jerusalem and was greeted by Anne with great news that she was with child.
Joachim and Anne were "godly people," of the first reading today, whose "virtuous lives" were the fertile ground for the life of the Mother of God, Mary, their daughter, to grow. They were a good and faithful Jewish couple – who raised Mary to fear God and seek always his will in everything – as they themselves lived. They were truly a holy family unto themselves!
These two, Joachim and Anne, were also, therefore, the grandparents of Jesus; and how they must have marveled at what was unfolding in the holy family life of their daughter and a carpenter named Joseph. They never ceased to glorify God and give him thanks for all his many favors, graces and blessings!
Joachim and especially Anne have been known throughout the centuries as ones to whom we – members of her grandson's Body - could confidently turn for intercessory prayer. Grandmother's always have had and always will have a special intercessory power with their grandchildren! And it is wonderful when that grandson is the one sitting on the Throne of David forever! – the King of the Universe – Jesus Christ. – who already loves each and every one of us beyond all telling!
The gospel passage infers, in a way, that Joachim and Anne were among the last great and righteous people of the Old Testament who did not see and hear what the disciples of Jesus were able to see and hear – if they used their eyes and ears of faith. But somehow it would seem that these two saw very clearly the amazing importance and role both of their daughter and her Son, who was also Son of God! They were very intuitive and faithfilled people!!
They yearned for the comforting of Israel,
and the Holy Spirit rested upon them!
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