Gospel in Art: Memorial of Saint Joachim and Saint Anne, parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Joachim and Anna Giving Food to the Poor and Offerings to the Temple, by Andrea di Bartolo © National Gallery of Art, Washington

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 26 July 2024
Matthew 13:18-23

Jesus said to his disciples: 'You are to hear the parable of the sower. When anyone hears the word of the kingdom without understanding, the evil one comes and carries off what was sown in his heart: this is the man who received the seed on the edge of the path. The one who received it on patches of rock is the man who hears the word and welcomes it at once with joy. But he has no root in him, he does not last; let some trial come, or some persecution on account of the word, and he falls away at once. The one who received the seed in thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this world and the lure of riches choke the word and so he produces nothing. And the one who received the seed in rich soil is the man who hears the word and understands it; he is the one who yields a harvest and produces now a hundredfold, now sixty, now thirty.'

Reflection on the painting

Joachim and Anne are traditionally recognised as the parents of Mary, the mother of Jesus, since the second century (as Scripture itself tells us nothing about Mary's parents; Anne is only mentioned in the apocryphal Protoevangilium of James). An early Church father addressed them with these words: "O blessed couple. All creation is indebted to you, for through you, the noblest gift is presented to the Creator, namely a spotless mother who alone was worthy of the Creator." It was through the faith of Joachim and Anne that Mary could make her profound response of faith to God's call delivered by the angel Gabriel.

As the grandparents of Jesus, Joachim and Anne fostered an environment of faith, allowing Jesus to grow in wisdom and love before God and others. Today's feast therefore invites us to reflect on the individuals who have supported us on our spiritual journeys. We are especially encouraged to remember today our grandparents and their faith, which helped ignite the flame of faith in our own lives. Within the church, there are these smaller communities of faith that help to nurture our relationship with God. Jesus' parents and grandparents were such a small community of faith in his life, and set him up for his life-giving ministry.

Narrative depictions of the Virgin Mary's life were highly popular in the 15th century, but this particular episode of is uncommon. Our painting depicts 'Joachim and Anna Giving Food to the Poor and Offerings to the Temple'. It showcases the charity of Mary's parents before her birth. In Tuscany, during our painter's, Andrea di Bartolo, time, legends spoke of Anna and Joachim's extraordinary generosity. Tradition said they retained only one-third of their wealth, giving one-third to charity and donating the rest to the temple. On the left of our painting, Joachim is seen distributing bread to the poor and infirm, some leaning on crutches, dressed in patched and ragged clothes. In the centre, Anna approaches the temple with boys carrying sacks of grain. Despite their generosity, the couple's childlessness-they were quite old when Mary was born-was seen as a sign of God's disfavour. Eventually, legend goes, Joachim's sacrifices were rejected by the priests, leading to his banishment from the temple. During his 40-day exile in the wilderness, angels appeared to both Joachim and Anne, announcing Mary's conception and revealing that their daughter would be extraordinary, "through whom will come the salvation of the world."

LINKS

Gospel in Art: https://christian.art/
Today's Reflection: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/matthew-13-18-23-2024/