Memorial of Saints Joachim and Anne, Parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Lectionary: 399
Reading 1
Jeremiah 3:14-17
Return, rebellious children, says the LORD,
for I am your Master;
I will take you, one from a city, two from a clan,
and bring you to Zion.
I will appoint over you shepherds after my own heart,
who will shepherd you wisely and prudently.
When you multiply and become fruitful in the land,
says the LORD,
They will in those days no longer say,
“The ark of the covenant of the LORD!”
They will no longer think of it, or remember it,
or miss it, or make another.
At that time they will call Jerusalem the LORD’s throne;
there all nations will be gathered together
to honor the name of the LORD at Jerusalem,
and they will walk no longer in their hardhearted wickedness.
Responsorial Psalm
Jeremiah 31:10, 11-12ABCD, 13
R. (see 10d) The Lord will guard us as a shepherd guards his flock.
Hear the word of the LORD, O nations,
proclaim it on distant isles, and say:
He who scattered Israel, now gathers them together,
he guards them as a shepherd his flock.
R. The Lord will guard us as a shepherd guards his flock.
The LORD shall ransom Jacob,
he shall redeem him from the hand of his conqueror.
Shouting, they shall mount the heights of Zion,
they shall come streaming to the LORD’s blessings:
The grain, the wine, and the oil,
the sheep and the oxen.
R. The Lord will guard us as a shepherd guards his flock.
Then the virgins shall make merry and dance,
and young men and old as well.
I will turn their mourning into joy,
I will console and gladden them after their sorrows.
R. The Lord will guard us as a shepherd guards his flock.
Alleluia
Luke 8:15
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are they who have kept the word with a generous heart
and yield a harvest through perseverance.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
Matthew 13:18-23
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Hear the parable of the sower.
The seed sown on the path is the one who hears the word of the Kingdom
without understanding it,
and the Evil One comes and steals away
what was sown in his heart.
The seed sown on rocky ground
is the one who hears the word and receives it at once with joy.
But he has no root and lasts only for a time.
When some tribulation or persecution comes because of the word,
he immediately falls away.
The seed sown among thorns is the one who hears the word,
but then worldly anxiety and the lure of riches choke the word
and it bears no fruit.
But the seed sown on rich soil
is the one who hears the word and understands it,
who indeed bears fruit and yields a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold.”
Reflection 1
Catholic Daily Reflections
Bearing Good Fruit One Hundredfold
“The seed sown among thorns is the one who hears the word, but then worldly anxiety and the lure of riches choke the word and it bears no fruit. But the seed sown on rich soil is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold.” Matthew 13:22–23
Today, Jesus clarifies for His disciples the meaning of His parable told to the crowds. He explains the meaning of the seed sown on the path, on the rocky ground, among the thorns and on the rich soil. Quoted above are the last two of those explanations. When we look carefully at the meaning of the seed sown into the rich soil, we see that these are those who hear, understand and bear fruit. And the fruit that is born is in varying degrees. One thing that this parable tells us is that hearing and even understanding the Word of God is not enough. There are many temptations we will face that will hinder God’s Word in our lives. Let’s briefly consider each.
First, there are many people who have been blessed to hear the Word of God. There are many who have been to religious education classes, have been taught by parents and others, have attended Church services but have failed to allow what they have heard to penetrate deeply to the point that they understand. To hear the Word of God is very different from understanding the Word of God. One reason for this is that the pure Word of God, when heard and understood, challenges us to the core of our being. If one truly understands God’s Word, then that person cannot remain indifferent. They must change. And they must change in a complete way. Failure to do so means that it is impossible for good fruit to be born in their life to the degree God wants.
But understanding and changing is not even enough. This is because the enemies of our soul, traditionally spoken of as the world, the flesh, and the devil, will powerfully attack any person who receives the Word of God and decides to abide by that Word. For example, if you were to fully accept the teachings of Jesus regarding forgiveness of others, as soon as you make the choice to forgive, there would most likely be numerous temptations to abandon that practice. Pride, anger, hurt, the lies of the evil one and the world will all try to deter you from an act of complete forgiveness of others. Or take, for example, the call to live completely detached from “riches.” Jesus’ teachings on true spiritual poverty versus true spiritual riches require a depth of conversion that is difficult to obtain. Thus, the “lure of riches” is very hard to overcome.
In the end, if your soul is truly fertile ground and if you allow the most pure and complete teaching of the Gospel to penetrate your soul so as to change you in every way God wants to change you, then this means that you have overcome each and every temptation thrown at you. You have rejected the temptations that come from greed, pride, anger and the like. You have embraced humility, rejected worldly esteem, dismissed anxiety and worry and are directed only by the powerful, gentle, holy, and clear Voice of God in your life. This requires much prayer, much interior purification, total dedication and unwavering obedience to the Word of God spoken to you both through the Gospels and in the depths of your conscience. And even among those who achieve this level of holiness, the fruit born in their lives is dependent upon how fully and habitually they live by the guiding Word of God.
Reflect, today, upon this high calling from our Lord. Achieving the goal of having exceptionally rich soil in your heart for the Word of God requires unyielding commitment and determination. There are numerous temptations that will fight against the creation of a fertile heart. Try to look at your own heart today. Be honest. How fertile is it? Does the Word of God grow there? And if so, does it grow to superabundance? Commit yourself to the goal of becoming that rich soil in which the Word of God is sown that not only bears good fruit but bears good fruit that is a hundredfold.
Reflection 2
One Bread, One Body
GETTING WHAT WE DESERVE
“I will appoint over you shepherds after My own heart, who will shepherd you wisely and prudently.” —Jeremiah 3:15
There are so many complaints about our leaders, both political and religious. Some people have not preferred any candidate to vote for in the national elections for years. (However, they’ve had many people to vote against!) So many religious leaders seem to be stifling the Spirit (1 Thes 5:19). Jesus’ description of the Pharisees and scribes as “blind guides” and “whitewashed tombs” still applies today (see Mt 23:16, 27). Leadership in many areas leaves a lot to be desired.
However, the Lord promised to provide good leaders for those who would return to Him (Jer 3:15). Ultimately, we make our own leaders and get the kind of leadership we deserve (cf Jgs 9:8ff). Bad leaders are one of the results of our refusal to repent. Let’s pray for our leaders (1 Tm 2:1-2) and for ourselves. Bad leadership is a partial payment of the wages of our sins (Rm 6:23).
Prayer: Father, I repent before I get what I deserve.
Promise: “What was sown on good soil is the man who hears the message and takes it in. He it is who bears a yield of a hundred- or sixty- or thirtyfold.” —Mt 13:23
Praise: St. Anne and her daughter, the Blessed Virgin Mary, were the only two women in history to carry immaculately conceived children in their wombs.
Reflection 3
Living His Word A Day At A Time
Where is the ark of the covenant of the Lord? There will be no thought of it, no memory of it, no regret for it, no making of another”. These words of Jeremiah in today’s first reading may sound rather shocking. This is because Jeremiah was speaking to the people after the fall of Jerusalem when the ark of the covenant was lost. What Jeremiah means is that since the ark is a sign of God’s presence; if God Himself dwells in their midst, there will be no need for a sign. He also prophesied that the Lord would send true shepherds who would nourish the people with knowledge about God and help them be rightly disposed.
The Gospel has Jesus, the shepherd, explaining to the disciples the parable of the sower and seeds. There is no doubt that God holds nothing back in his communication with us. But this can only impact our lives if we are rightly disposed.
Saints Joachim and Anne are the parents of Mary and grandparents of Jesus, and through their feast, today, we are invited to spend some time in thought and prayer to appreciate the role of Parents and Grandparents in our lives.
This feast is a reminder, too, to all parents of the influence that they wield in the lives of their children; for the children of today are the parents of tomorrow. Let us pray together that the bond between generations may grow ever stronger – a bond forged by faith, love and time.
Prayers
My demanding Lord, You desire that every soul of every person You have created become the most pure and most fertile ground in which the seed of Your Word can grow and produce fruit in superabundance. Please help me to commit myself to this radical depth of holiness, dear Lord. My life is Yours. Please purify me, change me, mold me and produce in me an abundance of good fruit. Jesus, I trust in You.
Lord Jesus, help me to guard the word you have planted in my heart that no doubt or temptation may keep me from believing and obeying you. May I be fruitful in your service and may I never fear to speak of you to others and to share with them the good news of the Gospel.
Daily Reflections on Divine Mercy
Reflection 207: Taking Comfort in the Heart of Christ
Children often find great comfort in snuggling close to a loving and tender parent. There is great satisfaction in being held tight in these arms of love. Fear and worry are dispelled in these moments and peace and solace are restored when distress has been present. So it must be with our Lord. We must seek the spiritual comfort that comes from bringing our weary selves to the source of all comfort. Drawing close to the Heart of our Lord brings peace in the midst of any turmoil. Stress, frustration, hurt and confusion are dismissed and replaced with a sense of confidence and safety. The Heart of the Lord reverberates in such a way that it invites us to take refuge in its rhythm. His compassion and Mercy are distributed with every beat as His Precious Blood covers us as a blanket of grace. Run to this source of comfort and allow the merciful Heart of your God to be your place of rest (See Diary #1074).
In your prayer, are you able to take comfort and solace in the Merciful Heart of our Lord? Reflect upon the intimacy that you are invited to share. It is an intimacy beyond any human comfort and distributes a grace that floods your soul with Mercy and peace. Ponder the image of a small child taking comfort in the arms of a loving parent. This is but a glimpse of the care that our Lord desires to show to you.
Heavenly Father, draw me close to You and to the Heart of Your Son. May I turn to You in all things and in every moment of distress in my life. I entrust myself to You and cling to Your Heart which is filled with compassion and love. May Your Heart be a resting place for my weary soul. I love You my God and I take refuge in You and You alone. Jesus, I trust in You.
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