Memorial of Saint Joachim and Saint Anne, parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary
The prophets are known for their unusual metaphors and images. Today’s passage from Jeremiah is a great example of this. In today’s reading, the people of Israel are compared to a rotted loincloth. As a loincloth is an intimate garment, so the people of Israel ought to have clung closely to the Lord. But because they have removed themselves from God, they have become “good for nothing” (Jer 13:7). This is insulting to the Lord precisely because God desires intimacy with his people for their own benefit. This passage indicates that pride ought to come from dependency on God, not independence from God. The latter pride is a mistaken pride that amounts to nothing; in isolation from God, the pride itself rots. The pride that comes from a dependency on God is rather a form of humility. It is a pride that gives credit where credit is due, namely, to God, the creator, redeemer, and sanctifier – the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
With this image of pride as humility, we can turn to today’s gospel passage with interest. Here we have images of the Kingdom of heaven. It is noteworthy that in both of these images, the size (a mustard seed) and quantity (yeast) is small. Yet in both cases, great things result: a large bush/tree and fully leavened bread. A mustard seed and a bit of yeast both are of little significance; they indicate humble origins and small beginnings. In both cases the results seem almost miraculous; neither the seed nor the yeast actively decide for themselves to do great things. Hence they portray the Kingdom of heaven in all its glory because they show what can become of humble beginnings. The greatness of the Kingdom of heaven is tied to an utter dependence on God, and this is its pride—this is what makes the great results possible.
We often have a tendency to think that we can do everything on our own. We think that we are responsible for our own destiny. In this self-reliance we often drive ourselves away from God. It is good then, to reflect on our community’s collective dependence on God as well as our own reliance on God. Great activity is not always the answer to life’s problems. As a mustard seed grows on its own with no apparent explanation, so also can we grow in faith if we are open to God’s grace working upon us.
Today we celebrate the Memorial of Saints Joachim and Anne, traditionally regarded as the parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary. And what better example of humble origins could we have! Nothing really is known of Mary’s parents, which is a testimony to their insignificance in the world of their day. It is said that Anne was barren, and that Mary was unexpectedly born to her parents late in their lives. In a culture where children were of utmost importance, Joachim and Anne must have been greatly sorrowed by having no children, but in their anguish they grew in their dependency on God, for they realized that there was nothing that they could do to change the situation. They had to be open to living their lives faithfully, even if that meant showing affection for neighbor kids, rather than having their own. Then, in the midst of this, Joachim and Anne were given a great gift – a child, a daughter who was to become the Mother of God. Truly, this is a testament to great things coming of humble origins that have their source in dependency on God!
Today, let us take the opportunity to identify one area (of our Church community or our own individual lives) where we have become too self-reliant. Let us ask God to enter that space intimately and help the Kingdom of heaven to grow more fully through us, as it did through Saints Joachim and Anne.
- Maria Morrow