Luke 12:22-34
- From: "Traudel" <hildegard8@xxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 16 Aug 2005 13:51:28 -0500
Bible Verse
-- Luke 12:22-34 --
Then Jesus said to his disciples: "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about
your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. Life
is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They
do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And
how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a
single hour to his life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do
you worry about the rest?
"Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you,
not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that
is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow
is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little
faith! And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry
about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father
knows that you need them. But seek his kingdom, and these things will be
given to you as well.
"Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give
you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses
for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be
exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your
treasure is, there your heart will be also.
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Jesus commands us not to worry. But how can we avoid it? Only faith can free
us from the anxiety caused by greed and covetousness. It is good to work and
plan responsibly; it is bad to dwell on all the ways our planning could go
wrong. Worry is pointless because it can't fill any of our needs; worry is
foolish because the Creator of the universe loves us and knows what we need.
He promises to meet all our needs, but not necessarily all our desires.
August 16th - Saint Joachim, Father of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary
(d. ca. 7 B.C.)
Joachim, of the tribe of Juda and the family of David, was a shepherd of
Nazareth. Stolanus, father of Saint Anne, gave him his pious daughter in
marriage. The two spouses lived in the fear of the Lord and the practice of
good works. They divided all their wealth into three parts: the first was
regularly given to the temple, for its support and that of the ministers of
religion; they gave the second part to the poor, while the last and least
excellent served for the needs of the family. Nonetheless, happiness had not
come to this home - the spouse of Joachim was sterile.
For twenty years already they had prayed to God to deliver them from this
opprobrium. The holy couple invariably went, according to custom at the
Feast of Tabernacles, to the Holy City. There the high priest was immolating
the victims when Joachim presented himself in his turn, bearing a lamb; Anne
followed him. The high priest had only words of contempt and reproach for
them, and in the presence of the people he rejected their offering.
Joachim did not have the heart to return to Nazareth; his grief prompted him
to seek solitude and prayer. Anne returned alone to their residence, and he
retired to a region near Jerusalem, where shepherds were pasturing their
sheep. The silent calm of pastoral life, brought some relief to the wound of
his heart. Who has not known how solitude brings one closer to God?
One day when he was alone in the fields, the Angel Gabriel came and stood
before him. Joachim prostrated himself, trembling with fear. "Do not fear,"
said the heavenly messenger. "I am the Angel of the Lord, and it is God
Himself who sends me. He has heard your prayers; your alms have come before
His presence. Anne, your spouse, will bear a daughter whose happiness will
be above that of other women; She will be blessed, and named the Mother of
eternal blessing. You will name the Child Mary and consecrate Her to God
when the time comes. The Holy Spirit, from the time She is in the womb of
Her mother, will dwell in Her soul, and He will accomplish in Her great
things." With those words, the Angel disappeared.
The Archangel's announcement and the Lord's promise were fulfilled. Joachim
in his turn was faithful to the commands of the Lord. His daughter received
the name of Mary, and when She was three years old, he and Saint Anne
entrusted Her to the pious women who in the temple of Jerusalem brought up
young girls consecrated to the Lord. Mary had lived there under the gaze of
God for eight years, when Joachim died, laden with merits and virtues. Anne,
his spouse, had him buried in the Valley of Josaphat, not far from the
Garden of Gethsemane, and one year later rejoined him there.
Sources: La vie des Saints pour tous les jours de l'année, by Abbé Pradier;
Les Petits Bollandistes: Vies des Saints, by Msgr. Paul Guérin (Bloud et
Barral: Paris, 1882), Vol. 9.
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Prayer Against Covetousness
O Lord Jesus Christ, who though Thou wast rich yet for our sakes didst
become poor, grant that all over-eagerness and covetousness of earthly goods
may die in us, and the desire of heavenly things may live and grow in us;
keep us from all idle and vain expenditures, that we may always have to give
to him that needeth, and that giving not grudgingly nor of necessity, but
cheerfully, we may be loved of Thee, and be made through Thy merits
partakers of the riches of Thy heavenly treasure. Amen.
Taken from: Manual of Prayers (pg 312)
Compiled by: Third Plenary Council of Baltimore
Imprimatur: James Cardinal Gibbons. Archiep. Baltimore
Published by: John Murphy Company
Copyright: Original 1888
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