MEMORIAL OF SAINTS JOACHIM AND ANNE, PARENTS OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY - Gospel (Mt 13: 16-17)

“Blessed are your eyes, because they see, and your ears. because they hear.” (Mt 13:16)

FIRST READING - Sirach 44:1,10-15

"Their name lives to all generations."

A reading from the Book of Sirach

1 Let us now praise famous men,

    and our fathers in their generations.

10 But these were men of mercy,

    whose righteous deeds have not been forgotten;

11 their prosperity will remain with their descendants,

    and their inheritance to their children’s children.[a]

12 Their descendants stand by the covenants;

    their children also, for their sake.

13 Their posterity will continue for ever,

    and their glory will not be blotted out.

14 Their bodies were buried in peace,

    and their name lives to all generations.

15 Peoples will declare their wisdom,

    and the congregation proclaims their praise.

GOSPEL OF THE DAY - Mt 13:16-17

"Many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see"

✠From the Gospel according to Matthew

¹⁶ But blessed are your eyes, because they see, and your ears, because they hear. ¹⁷ For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.

MEMORIAL OF SAINTS JOACHIM AND ANNE. PARENTS OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY - Gospel (Mt 13: 16-17)

Dear People of God,

Today's Word of God speaks of the origin of Jesus Christ. He is both God and man. In His divine nature, He is invisible; in His human nature, He was born of the Virgin Mary, who herself was born of her parents, Saints Joachim and Anne.

Today, the Church celebrates two saints in order to express gratitude to our ancestors. Every person traces their origins to those who came before them. God wishes to remind us all to be grateful to our ancestors and to pray for the souls of those who have gone before us.

The Word of God also reminds us that blessed are those who listen to the words of Jesus Christ. He calls us to give thanks to God, to live by His teachings, and to put them into practice. How blessed are the people of today to be able to hear the Word of God regularly, whereas in ancient times, the prophets and ancestors—whom Jesus called righteous—did not witness such miracles nor hear His Word directly.

Therefore, God wishes to emphasize to people today the importance of always being grateful and showing respect to their ancestors. Live each day according to the teachings of Jesus Christ. This is true happiness—the most precious gift that God has given to humanity.

There is nothing more precious or more fulfilling than having God in one’s heart. Whoever lives according to and practices the Word of God carries Him within. Give thanks to God in all circumstances. Fear Him and love Him above all things, with all your soul and with all your mind.

Thanks be to God. Amen.

19:00 July 26th, 2025 - Prayer of Divine Mercy - The Way to Heaven