Memorial of Saints Joachim and Anne, Parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Be amazed at this, O heavens, and shudder with sheer horror, says the LORD. Two evils have my people done: they have forsaken me, the source of living waters; They have dug themselves cisterns, broken cisterns, that hold no water.

We are constantly tempted to forsake God and try to build lives for ourselves. This spirit of selfishness and pride is one that leads to brokenness, emptiness, and death. Without the living waters of God, we dry up spiritually, mentally, and physically. We dig ourselves deeper and deeper into sin and are buried in fears, doubts, and worldly anxieties. However, it doesn't have to be this way. Instead of selfishness and pride, we can build our lives on selflessness and faith in God just like saints Joachim and Anne. They trusted in God, they placed their lives at His service and did everything He asked of them. They loved God with all their hearts, souls, minds, and strengths and passed on this devotion to their daughter, Mary, Our Heavenly Queen and Mother.

Are there areas in our lives where we are trying to be the builders and not letting God build for us? What sins, fears, doubts, and worldly anxieties are we allowing to bury us in guilt and worry? How can we become more faithful to God in all things, like the parents of Mary?

O Lord, we thank you for such great spiritual grandparents as saints Joachim and Anne.

Amen.