REFLECTIONS TODAY Sirach praises Israel’s great ancestors in these words: “Their wealth remains in their families, their heritage with their descendants; through God’s covenant with them their family endures, their posterity for their sake. And for all time their progeny will endure…” (Sir 44:11-13). While Sirach applies this praise to the patriarchs, Moses, the prophets, and the just kings, the liturgy uses the reading for the memorial of Saints Joachim and Anne, parents of Mary; hence, grandparents of Jesus. In the Gospel, Jesus calls his disciples blessed because they live at the time when God accomplishes his promise of salvation, something that many prophets and righteous people longed for but did not see it. This is finally accomplished in the coming of Jesus, the Son of God and the Son of Mary. Though not in the Gospel, we can imagine the joy of Jesus’ grandparents as they behold their daughter’s Son. Like old Simeon taking the infant Jesus into his arms, they can say as well to the Lord: “My eyes have seen your salvation” (Lk 2:30). GOSPEL • MATTHEW 13:16-17 Jesus said to his disciples, “Blessed are your eyes, because they see, and your ears, because they hear.” “Amen, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.” SOURCE: “365 Days with the Lord 2021,” ST. PAULS, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; Fax 632-895-7328; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.