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Grandparents can learn from Joachim and Anne to pass on faith
Published: June 15, 2017
By Chris Thomas
St. Edward Church, Texarkana
One difficult afternoon, many years ago, was spent disciplining our 6-year-old son Andrew. After tears of anger and frustration, he shouted out, “I want to talk to Grandma.”
That exclamation released my tension and made me smile. We picked up the telephone and each chatted with my mom who lived 300 miles away, and we were both nourished with healing love and support.
Today that same 300 miles separates me from Andrew and his 6-year-old son, Edward. But nothing makes me smile more than when they call to share their day’s joys and frustrations. Being a grandparent is truly a gift from God.
Living our faith, in word and example, is perhaps the simplest and most profound way. Praying together before meals and bedtime and going to Mass as a family during visits are ways of sharing our faith.
In the mid-second century, the apocryphal work, the Protoevangelium of James, was written. Even the early Church fathers had a difficult time sorting out what was true and what was not, so what follows is an ancient tradition of Jesus’ grandparents, Sts. Joachim and Anne.
Making their home in Jerusalem, they lived a long and happy life together but were saddened they did not have children. After being mocked in the temple for that very reason, Joachim retreated to the wilderness for 40 days to pray and fast.
Anne spent the same time in prayer in her garden where she too grieved. Each had a vision of an angel proclaiming the Lord had heard their prayer and that they would conceive. Nine months later, Anne gave birth to Mary.
Joachim and Anne’s work had just begun as the parents of Mary. In a homily delivered by his Eminence, Metropolitan Nicholas of Detroit in honor of their feast day, we are reminded that “through instruction, through patience, by word and example” Joachim and Anne fulfilled their obligation as parents to prepare their child for adulthood.
In their case, preparing Mary to be the mother of Jesus. Though not mentioned specifically in the Bible, we can imagine their role of love in the hidden childhood of Christ.
Pope Francis, in an address delivered in 2014, urges us to cherish all stages of life. He reminds us that “children will carry it forward; and grandparents have the wisdom of history, the memory of a people. Children and grandparents are the hope of a people!”
In our efforts to strengthen the beauty of the dialogue between generations, we would do well to examine how we, as grandparents, interact with those following us. How best can we share our faith and our wisdom of history?
Living our faith, in word and example, is perhaps the simplest and most profound way. Praying together before meals and bedtime and going to Mass as a family during visits are ways of sharing our faith.
Take time to look at the home environment; are there pictures of saints mixed in with family ones? Is there a crucifix present? Or, perhaps, a depiction of the Holy Family to remind us of who we are called to be?
Further, spending time with our grandchildren is perhaps the most important and fulfilling way to share who we are, including our faith. I once asked Edward how he knows I love him. He responded that he knows because we walk to the park together and I give him kisses. Those moments are not only gifts to myself but are memories of love that Edward will have all his life.
How blessed are we who can rejoice in Psalm 128: “Happy is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in his ways … the Lord bless you from Zion … may you see your children’s children.”
