“HONEY FROM THE ROCK”
Daily Reflections
Wednesday, 26th July 2017.
Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Feast of Sts Joachim and Anne, Parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Sir 44: 1, 10-15;
Ps 132: 11, 13-14, 17-18;
Mt 13: 16-17
CALLED TO LISTEN AND SEE GOD!
Joachim (name meaning ‘Yahweh Prepares’) and Anne (name meaning ‘Grace’) are the parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Tradition has it that they first lived in Galilee and later settled in Jerusalem where the Blessed Virgin Mary was born and raised. We know very little about the lives of Joachim and Anne, but we do know that they must have been outstanding people to have been entrusted with raising the Mother of God.
Today by honouring the grandparents of Jesus we honour the elderly people. The first reading of today taken from the book of Sirach asks us to honour our ancestors. One who honours and respects one’s parents and grandparents obeys God’s will. In the gospel of today Jesus appreciates his hearers because their ears hear and their eyes see. He calls them blessed. Eyes are meant for seeing and ears are meant for listening. Many times we fail to see or hear. Physically or externally we might be hearing or seeing. But when Jesus speaks of listening and seeing it has also an internal significance. It is more than hearing and seeing. It means that one is able to see God working in oneself and in others. Many times God works through insignificant events and moments of life. In such situations we fail to see the hand of God and we fail to listen to God speaking to us. We may listen to the whole world speaking to us, but if we fail to listen to God speaking to us, it is all in vain. Similarly, we may see the whole universe, but if we fail to see God behind these things we do everything in vain.
When Jesus preached, some of them listened to him and saw the coming of the Kingdom of God. God continuously speaks to us; He gives us opportunity to see him in various ways. When we read the Word of God, God speaks to us. We do not see God face to face. We see him in the poor, in the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar, in the consecrated persons, in the community gathered in Jesus’ name. Taking the example of Joachim and Anne, above all the example of Mary their daughter, we are called today to see God and to listen to him.
Prayer: Lord, help me to listen to You. Let me see You in my life, so that I may do Your will always. I pray for my parents and my grandparents who have always taught me to love You, to serve You and listen to You. Bless them and all parents and grand parents all over the world. Jesus, I trust in You. Amen.