17th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Solemnity of Saint Ann (Patronal Feast for the Province of Saint Ann of the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament) *
A man of true wisdom, Solomon asked the Lord for the gifts that matter most. Not for riches, not for a long life, nor for the life of others; rather, he asked for the true treasures of understanding love and the wisdom of knowing right from wrong.
Don’t we all imagine what the Kingdom of Heaven is like? We all have earthly images of Heaven – perhaps of an unending dining table occupied by those we have loved and lost, or seeing those same people floating around on clouds surrounding the open gates, or maybe seeing them standing next to our Lord with open arms awaiting our arrival.
Matthew’s Gospel recounts how Jesus provided the people with several vivid comparisons that illustrate how to value Heaven in light of what we experience here. Heaven – like a buried treasure, when discovered, everything else doesn’t matter at all! Heaven – like the gleaming, perfect pearl, when obtained, nothing else matters at all! Heaven – our saving net, secure in the Lord’s embrace, and then nothing else matters at all! Yes, this is all so hopeful, but Jesus warns that the angels will greet the righteous ones and cast away into fire those who did not follow the call from God.
Today, we honor the Feast Day of Saint Ann, mother of the Virgin Mary. For twenty years, she and her husband, Joachim, were childless. According to Tradition, after many years of fasting and prayer, an angel appeared and announced that she would conceive. Saint Ann is celebrated for her piety, faithful devotion, and maternal care. What a shining example she was to her daughter, our blessed Mother! Let us ask for her intercession today, especially for the Eymardian Family of the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament in the USA, as she is our patroness and serves as a model for us on our faith journeys.
Prayer:
Loving Lord, your laws of love are precious to me. May your compassion and wisdom envelope me that I may delight in your laws and hold them preciously in my heart. Have mercy on me, forgive my sins, and grant me the strength to persevere in showing the beauty of your laws of love, mercy, peace, and hope to all I meet today. Amen.
*Readings for the Solemnity of Saint Ann
First Reading: Sirach 44:1, 10-15
Psalm: Psalm 132: 11, 13-14, 17-18
Second Reading: Romans 8:28-30
Gospel: Matthew 13:16-17
The reflection above is based on the readings for the 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time.
