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Thursday, July 26, 2001

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Sts. Joachim & Ann


Sirach 44:1, 10-15
Psalm 132
Matthew 13:16-17

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"At gatherings their wisdom is retold, and the assembly proclaims their praise." —Sirach 44:15

The Spirit has inspired the Church to remember Jesus' grandparents, Joachim and Ann. We recognize their significant contribution to Jesus' life as He grew in age, wisdom, and grace (Lk 2:52).

Many grandparents don't feel they are having much influence on their children and grandchildren. We all feel frustrated by our limitations in impacting the world for Jesus. However, this feast day emphasizes that we have a much greater influence on our families and our world than the devil would have us know about. Our virtues will not be forgotten (Sir 44:10). Our spiritual heritage will profoundly affect people for a thousand generations (Ex 20:6). Even the smallest act, like giving someone a glass of water, will not go without its reward (Mt 10:42). Everything we do for love of Jesus has personal, immediate, communal, international, and eternal significance.

We are sons and daughters of God the Father. Our lives, actions, words, time, and decisions can be part of God's awesome plan of salvation. Grandparents are important. All who are in Christ are vitally, eternally important. We can't get any more important. Let's live accordingly.

Prayer:  Father, may I not waste or trivialize any part of my life.

Promise:  "Blest are your eyes because they see and blest are your ears because they hear. I assure you, many a prophet and many a saint longed to see what you see but did not see it, to hear what you hear but did not hear it." —Mt 13:16-17

Praise:  Sts. Ann and Joachim hoped for children and grandchildren; their daughter became mother to the Firstborn from the dead (see Col 1:18).

Nihil Obstat:  Reverend Robert L. Hagedorn, January 4, 2001


Imprimatur:  †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, January 24, 2001