On July 26, the Catholic Church commemorates the feast of Sts. Joachim and Anne or Anna, the grandparents of Jesus and the parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Joachim and Anne was a God-fearing couple who followed God’s commands. They had been married for 20 years but barren. A marriage without children was a curse back then, but they understood God could work miracles in their silent lives. Unhappy with her barrenness, Anne solemnly committed to God that if they were blessed with a child, she would dedicate the child to the Lord’s service. Joachim and Anne saw an Angel who told them that Anne would conceive and bear the child they would name Mary. To honour their vow to the Lord, they devoted the child to the temple, who became the Mother of God, and they became the Messiah’s grandparents. God used them as tools to bring forth the spotless vessel Mary, the Mother of God, who would conceive without sin and bear the prince of peace and hope who would bring salvation to the world by his death on the cross.
Joachim and Anne are among the few married couple saints canonized by the Catholic Church. They are admired as role models for married couples who gracefully carry out their parental responsibilities. Both of them are important individuals in the history of the Church as they paved the way for redemption through Jesus. They were delighted to remember those times when God had watched over them at their worst moments.
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The finest choice one can make is to accept God’s will. After realizing God’s purpose for their lives, they pushed ahead in trust and said “yes” to everything. Mary, the servant of the Lord, bravely and humbly bowed down and said, “Here am I, the Lord’s servant, let it be with me according to your word” (Lk 1:38), learning from her parents how to say yes to God’s will. Because His mother was born to parents accustomed to suffering and lived in complete devotion to God, Jesus, born of the Virgin Mary, grew to accept suffering. His total surrender continued in the garden of Gethsemane, where He threw himself on the ground and prayed ‘My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass me by. Nevertheless, let it be as you, not I, would have it.'(Matt 26:38). Can we humbly say “Let Thy will be done” to the Almighty in this busy and commercialized world? Few people will say it!
Let each of us have the attitude, “I do not know what my future holds, but I know who holds it,” as we commemorate the grandparents of Jesus. Today’s children of single families who reside in apartments may need help understanding the value of harmony, love, caring, and sharing. Young people can benefit from older people’s perspective on life by learning that not everything depends on their talents, success, or popularity.
Grandparents give children unwavering affection that makes them feel safe and secure. They help teach family culture, tradition, and history. When grandparents share stories, it does more than entertain the child; it helps connect her to her family. Children learn what it means to ‘persevere, to be loyalty, to work hard, to be patient, and to sacrifice’ when they live with and interact with their grandparents. Don’t abandon your grandparents in old-age homes since they are examples for the younger generation on how to live.
