The Feast of St. Anne and St. Joachim (celebrated on July 26), the Grandparents of Jesus, always makes me think of the obvious: my Grandparents. However, this year the feast also has me thinking of my own parents. They are Grandparents to twelve. Maybe I’m seeing and hearing them differently this year because the oldest granddaughter recently married and oldest grandson will be married soon. Maybe it has to do with how I’m seeing them age, or maybe it is noticing how I see my own Grandparents reflected in the ways my mom and dad have grandparented for the past 23 years. Whatever it is, I know it indeed comes with blessings. The blessings Jesus speaks of in the gospel of Matthew 13.16-17 is calling us to note what holds our attention. Are we caught up in our own little world or do we make space for the other? Do we notice our blessings? Do we see the Risen Christ in the world around us?
“Blessed are your eyes and your ears” was not just a feel-good moment for the disciples so they could boast about seeing and knowing Jesus. No, this blessing is for all of us who live on this side of Resurrection. Our longings and yearnings are met in the Eucharist, in the community of believers gathered, in our personal encounters with Jesus in our prayer time. We meet Jesus, we see him, we hear him, we hold him, we allow him to speak to our restless hearts.
I consider again my parents as their Grandparenting shifts from helping to care for little ones, to enjoying visits with adult grandchildren and hearing the antics of pre-teen and teenage grandchildren. The blessings my parents have experienced because of these twelve grandchildren fills volumes in their hearts. The blessings remind them of the bigger picture of generation after generation, of “descendants standing by the covenants and their offspring continuing forever” (Sirach 44) As much as I would like to declare this all happens perfectly, it does not. It comes with heartache, with side steps, with seeing again with new eyes and hearing with new ears. Blessed encounters of the depths of love. Because the depth of love always calls us into relationship, into covenant. Our God is the God of covenantal relationships.
Saint Anne and St. Joachim lived in the covenant of their marriage, they also lived in the covenant of being parents – raising Mary (she didn’t raise herself) and in being grandparents – fostering the legacy of love in Jesus. This covenant reminds me of my Grandparents. The witness of faith they were for me, the dedication to each other, their commitment to family and community and their joy for life even in the struggles speaks of covenantal relationship.
I am always grateful I knew and had a relationship with all four of my Grandparents. Although we do not know if Jesus knew his Grandparents, I would like to think he did. I imagine them supporting his development. Saint Joachim teaching him skills along side St. Joseph as well as teaching him the way of their ancestors. St. Anne along with Mary fostering his faith and compassion anchoring him in the covenant to which shaped him and his life. It really does take a village to raise a child. I believe this feast gives witness to this truth for in God we are held by the love covenant of blessing, honour, legacy and attentiveness. This is the covenant of blessed eyes and blessed ears to see and hear love.
To bless someone is to call forth the dignity of their birthright as a child of God. It speaks to their goodness, their sense of belonging and worth. To bless someone is take note of God at work in their life. My Grandparents blessed me over and over again sometimes in prayers, at other times in conversations, sometimes with small gifts and still at other times just being present. I see this echoed now in the life of my parents as they bless their grandchildren. Their grandchildren know they have an open door, a warm welcome, a safe place and invitation to receive the blessing of a Grandparent’s love. In the gospel Jesus tells his disciples they are blessed because they have seen him. When others “see” us do they see Christ? Do they know they are a blessing?
May we be strengthened so we may be attentive to the blessing of others and live well in covenant with each other. May we honour the value and legacy of relationships today, tomorrow and for generation after generation.
God bless all grandparents and elders. Thank you for your witness of hope.
St. Joachim and St. Anne pray for us.
Photo Credit: Joshua Hoehne
