important people
"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 Anne. 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 believe. 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. Joachim & Anne discerned God's will in their life together and it changed the universe forever.
Reference: (For a related teaching, order our leaflet, How to Get Your Kids to Go to Church and Go to Heaven, or our tape on audio AV 42-3 or video V-42.)
Rescript: †Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, February 1, 2011
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