OT16TH2

Sts.. Joachim and Anne, Parents of Mary, Memorial

Matthew 13:10-17 "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."

First Reading: Jer 2:1-3, 7-8, 12-13

This word of the LORD came to me: Go, cry out this message
for Jerusalem to hear!
I remember the devotion of your youth,
how you loved me as a bride,
Following me in the desert,
in a land unsown.
Sacred to the LORD was Israel,
the first fruits of his harvest;
Should any presume to partake of them,
evil would befall them, says the LORD.
When I brought you into the garden land
to eat its goodly fruits,
You entered and defiled my land,
you made my heritage loathsome.
The priests asked not,
“Where is the LORD?”
Those who dealt with the law knew me not:
the shepherds rebelled against me.
The prophets prophesied by Baal,
and went after useless idols.
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.

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 36:6-7,8-9,10-11

R./ With you is the fountain of life, O Lord.

O LORD, your mercy reaches to heaven;
your faithfulness, to the clouds.
Your justice is like the mountains of God;
your judgments, like the mighty deep.
R./ With you is the fountain of life, O Lord.

How precious is your mercy, O God!
The children of men take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
They have their fill of the prime gifts of your house;
from your delightful stream you give them to drink.
R./ With you is the fountain of life, O Lord.

For with you is the fountain of life,
and in your light we see light.
Keep up your mercy toward your friends,
your just defense of the upright of heart.
R./ With you is the fountain of life, O Lord.

Gospel Introduction:
Jesus complains that there are some who close their hearts to his message of life. His message is simple. Much of it is told in the moving stories of the parables. Why don't people understand them? They are fickle and busy with themselves and their own little affairs. Or they think they are too learned and too self-sufficient, above the little ones, the humble, the simple people; these are eager to be receptive of the word of God and to pay attention to it.

Gospel Reading: Matthew 13:10-17

The disciples approached Jesus and said,
          "Why do you speak to the crowd in parables?"
He said to them in reply,
          "Because knowledge of the mysteries of the Kingdom of heaven
          has been granted to you, but to them it has not been granted.
To anyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich;
          from anyone who has not, even what he has will be taken away.
This is why I speak to them in parables, because
          they look but do not see and hear but do not listen or understand.
Isaiah's prophecy is fulfilled in them, which says:

          You shall indeed hear but not understand,
                    you shall indeed look but never see.
          Gross is the heart of this people,
                    they will hardly hear with their ears,
                              they have closed their eyes,
                              lest they see with their eyes
                    and hear with their ears
          and understand with their hearts and be converted
                    and I heal them.
"But blessed are your eyes, because they see,
          and your ears, because they hear.
Amen, I say to 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."

Liturgy Alive

STS. JOACHIM AND ANNE, Parents of Mary
Memorial - July 26

Introduction

We know nothing more about the parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary than that the Protevangelium of James, (an apocryphal infancy gospel from the third century), gives them the names Joachim and Anne. Their feast comes from Oriental rites, in which parents are often honored with their children when these become famous.
In any case, the liturgy reminds us that people are often instrumental in bringing us God's salvation.

Opening Prayer

Lord our God,
there were many deeply believing
and simple, poor people
waiting for the coming of the Messiah.
We thank your for these believers
and we ask you today
at this celebration of the parents of Mary
that we may be longing for a deeper coming
of your Son Jesus Christ among us
May many more accept him
as their Savior and their Lord.

Prayer over the Gifts

Lord our God,
we are ready to listen and accept
the secrets of the kingdom of heaven.
We bring before you
these simple offerings of bread and wine
Let them express that we want
to be open to your secrets with unsophisticated hearts,
For you reveal yourself
to those who listen with their hearts.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Prayer after Communion

Lord our God,
make us attentive to the words
which Jesus has spoken to us at his table
and keep stirring in us the love he has shown us.
Let our faith be more than formulas
that do not change our life in any way.
Make the story of our life speak to those around us
that we have understood how much you care
and that we may respond to you
with all that is in us.
Grant this through Christ our Lord.