As for the man

Greetings on this the Memorial of Saints Joachim and Anne, Parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Readings: Ex 32:15-24, 30-34; PS 106:19-20, 21-22, 23; Mt 13:31-35
Notes: We celebrate Joachim and Anne, Parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary. We have some confidence these are their names according to some extra biblical writings. How blessed their lives must have been. The Blessed Mother, with Immaculate Conception, had the singular grace of being untainted by original sin. We know so little of her parents. We know so much about their daughter!

As for the man… we do not know what has happened to him (Ex 32:23).

Some simply go invisible.

First reading
Far be it from me to criticize Moses.
He was on the mountain for forty days and forty nights.

And the people forgot him. They forgot him and the Lord who rescued them.

Some simply go forgotten.

Responsorial Psalm
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.

They forgot the God who had saved them,
who had done great deeds in Egypt.

Alleluia Verse
The Father willed to give us birth by the word of truth
that we may be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

Gospel Portion
Those who follow Christ are reminded to be visible yet invisible and remembered yet forgotten.

The power of all evangelization is in the person of whom we speak, namely Jesus Christ.

And no matter what you do or say, people must make up their own mind.

It is the smallest of all the seeds, yet when full-grown it is the largest of plants. It becomes a large bush, and the birds of the sky come and dwell in its branches.”

Paradoxically, a bird sitting in a tree is never afraid in a branch breaking, because her trust isn’t in the branch, it’s in her own wings.

Regarding what I expect from the deacons of Rome, … dimensions to cultivate. Firstly, I expect you to be humble. It is sad to see a bishop and a priest showing off, but it is even sadder to see a deacon wanting to put himself at the centre of the world, or at the centre of the liturgy, or at the centre of the Church. Be humble. Let all the good you do be a secret between you and God. And so it will bear fruit (Pope Francis, Saturday, 19 June 2021).

Some simply go alone.

I hear mothers and widows and grandparents lament this way. I am invisible, forgotten and alone.

Grandparents – https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2021-07/world-day-grandparents-elderly-pope-prayer-released-dicastery-la.html

• It is important to try and remember our parents, grandparents.
• It is important to try and remember the patriarchs and saints of our life.

Even in your own spiritual life – Who baptized you? Who was your sponsor?

None of us birthed ourselves. None of us self-administered the Sacraments. None of us are able to live without some kindness of even strangers.

As for the man… remember (her/him/them)…

• Who planted the seed of faith in you?
• Who allowed themselves to be a branch for you?

Who have we made feel invisible, forgotten and alone?

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry