JOACHIM AND ANN

 SS JOACHIM & ANNE, PARENTS OF THE B. V. M. (MEMORIAL)

(The parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary) Memorial 


First reading. Exodus 16:1-5. 9-15

Psalm 78:18-19, 23-28 (R. 24b)

Gospel. Matthew Matthew 13: 1-9


TOPIC FOR REFLECTION


SAINTS JOACHIM AND ANNE: THE SOWER OF THE MUSTARD SEED OF OUR SALVATION.

Saints Joachim and Anne: the parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

According to tradition derived from certain apocryphal writings. St. Anne is one of the patron saints of women in labour. As the grandparents of Jesus, Saints Anne and Joachim are also considered the patron saints of the grandparents.

                   The Legend story

Information concerning their lives and names is found in the 2nd-century Protevangelium of James (“First Gospel of James”) and the 3rd-century Evangelium de nativitate Mariae (“Gospel of the Nativity of Mary”). According to these non-canonical sources, Anne (Hebrew: Ḥannah) was born in Bethlehem in Judaea. She married Joachim, and although they shared a wealthy and devout life in Nazareth, they eventually lamented their childlessness. Joachim reproached at the Temple for his sterility, and retreated into the countryside to pray, while Anne, grieved by his disappearance and by her barrenness, solemnly promised God that, if given a child, she would dedicate it to the Lord’s service. Both received the vision of an angel, who announced that Anne would conceive and bear a most wondrous child. The couple rejoiced at the birth of their daughter, whom Anne named Mary. When the child was three years old, Joachim and Anne, in fulfilment of her divine promise, brought Mary to the Temple of Jerusalem, where they left her to be brought up.


We all are products of a seed. We germinated and become big trees that give shelter to other people.


Joachim and Anne sowed a seed called, Mary, and by the power of the Holy Spirit, she gave birth to Jesus. Jesus established the kingdom of God on earth, He established the Church, and we all become a member of His Church (shelter of salvation)


So, Jesus in today's Gospel gave a parable about seeds which do not bear fruits, the ones who intend to bear fruits but worldly pleasure made them not bear good fruits, while those who are striving to bear good fruits are been affected by the worries of this life; however, those who do not allow either worries or pleasure to affect their faith, bear good fruits. 


Invariably, we can see that neither worries nor the pleasure of the world did not affect Joachim and Ann not to bear good fruits. The seed of Joachim and Ann beget Mary, and Mary's Divine seed beget Jesus the Son of God who in turn sews an imperishable good seed of the kingdom of Heaven.


Therefore, in summary,  the Gospel and the memorial we celebrate today are intertwined. 


I guess it will not be out of place to refer to Saints Joachim and Anne as the mustard seed of our salvation. 


They gave birth to Mary whom we refer to as the Refuge of sinners. We all take refuge under her mantle.


Similarly, we should allow the seed of the Gospel sown in our lives to germinate and bear fruits, fruits that will last.


Sts, Joachim and Anne...... Pray for us


Peace ✌️ be with you


Rev. Fr. Segun Oladeji, CRS.

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