HOMILY FOR THE MEMORIAL OF SAINTS JOACHIM AND ANN (2)

HOMILY FOR THE MEMORIAL OF SAINTS JOACHIM AND ANN

THEME: The parable of the Wheat and Weeds.

BY: Justin Nzekwe

HOMILY FOR TUESDAY JULY 26 2022

We are currently living in a temporal world, our permanent home is in heaven. Jesus in the gospel reading of today taught us the meaning of the parable of the Wheat and Weeds. According to him, “He who sows the good seed is the Son of man. The field is the world and the good seed are the children of the Kingdom. The weeds are the children of the Evil One and the enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the world and the reapers are the angels. As therefore the weeds are gathered and burned in fire, so it will be at the end of the world.” This parable continues to remind us on the need to live a good life here on earth as citizens of heaven. Our lives signify the fruits we bear. If we live a good life, then we are bearing good fruits, and if we live a bad life, we are bearing bad fruits.

However, our vocation as Christian is a vocation to living a good life. We must not follow those who think that there is no life after death or judgment after death. Each and every one of us will give an account of our daily lives on the last day, and we do not know when that last day will come. You should always ask yourself these questions: do I think that the life I am live now will make Jesus to be smiling at me with satisfaction, or will it make him to feel bad that I am was not obeying his commandments? Will the life I am living today merit me heaven? The gospel reading further reminds us that, “The Son of Man will send his angels to him, who will gather all scandals and all who commit iniquity from his kingdom and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who has ears, listen!” It means that while some will be rejoicing on the last day, other will be sad.

However, we all here shall be among those who will be shining like the sun in heaven, since we already have Our Mother Mary who will intercede for us. As we celebrate the memorial of Saints Joachim and Ann, the parents of Mary and the grand parents of Jesus. We remember a righteous couple who trained Mary their daughter very well.

Today they are much fulfilled that their daughter became the Mother of God, and indeed the Mother of all Creation.

We pray in this holy Mass for the intercession of Saints Joachim and Ann, that God will grant us the grace to live a holy life, and to be able to obtain favour from God just like our Mother Mary received unmerited favour from God.