IN  PRAISE  OF GRANDPARENTS

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily on this July 26^th  feast of Saints Anne and Joachim, the grandparents of Jesus, is,  “In Praise of Grandparents.”

My main comments will be about Joachim and Anne, some quotes about grandparents  - and conclude with the importance and significance of grandparents.

Notice St. Mary’s Church does its praise with two statues up here - of Anne and Joachim. They were short people. [Joke]

WHO ARE THEY?

Anne and Joachim are names given them in time - from legends and from traditions.

As you know we don’t know their real names from our Bible. They are not mentioned in the genealogies of Jesus in Matthew and Luke. And you won’t find mention of Joachim and Anne in the infancy narratives.

Obviously, Jesus had to have grandparents. That’s why I like the joke I love to use in the pulpit to see if people are listening, “As Grouch Marx put it, if your parents didn’t have any kids, chances are you won’t either.”

We do get the names, Joachim and Anne, from some of the apocryphal gospels and Infancy Narratives - legends and made up stories - to fill in the gaps about what we don’t know from the canonical or official gospels.

It was interesting to find out last night when looking up some of this stuff that there are about 150 surviving manuscripts of the so called, Gospel of James - which goes back perhaps to 150. We don’t have that document but copies of that earlier document - which go back to the 3^rd or early 4^th century and then after that.

In time - because they are connected so closely to Jesus - Joachim and Anne became models for grandparents and saints to pray to for help for being a grandparent.

In 1584 Joachim was mentioned in the Roman canon of saints.

They are also mentioned in Muslim traditions as well.

And you might remember that Luther in a violent thunder storm  - as he tells is - cried out in prayer, “Save me, Saint Anne, and I’ll become a monk.” He did - but others say he was thinking of that calling long before that thunderstorm.

A FEW COMMENTS ABOUT GRANDPARENTS

Those of you who are grandparents know the feelings and the joy in hearing the news that one of your kids is going to have a baby. It’s a different feeling - from the first time you were to be a parent yourself.

Becoming a grandparent also has its humor. “Welcome to your new job, babysitter, par excellence.” 

Those of you who are grandparents, know it gives great new meaning to your life - and deeper understandings of your kids who made you a grandparent.

SOME QUOTES

I looked up “Quotes about Grandparenting” and here are a few.

There is the Italian saying, “If nothing is going well, call your grandmother.”

Ogden Nash said, “When grandparents enter the door, discipline flies out the window.”

Pam Brown said, “Becoming a grandmother is wonderful. One moment you’re just a mother. The next you are all-wise and prehistoric.”

Marcy de Maree said, “Grandma always made you feel she had been waiting to see just you all day and now the day is complete.”

Lewis Mumford, “Every generation revolts against its fathers and makes friends with its grandfathers.”

SIGNIFICANCE

Grandparents are a marvelous support system - when so many families are struggling with balancing two jobs - many schedule stresses - divorces - financial problems and what have you.

Grandparents are the keepers of the stories.

Grandparents give cookies, checks, hugs and presence at so many family events - graduations, baptisms, and soccer and lacrosse games.

CONCLUSION

Saints Anne and Joachim bless our families and our world. Amen.