Sta. Ana and the Human in Jesus Christ

The early Fathers of the Church were unanimous in declaring that God became human so that humans can become God or godly. This is Jesus Christ God in human form.

To become godly or divine like Jesus we must strive to be human like him. To be human like him we need the help of two women, His mother Mary and His Grandmother Anne and Grandfather Joachim.

How?

Everything human in the behaviour of Jesus, that is, His ways of thinking, desiring, feeling, speaking, doing and relating are the combined result of the genes directly of Mary and indirectly of Anne and Joachim. In some way, the social conditioning and/or family upbringing contribute also to Jesus’ behavioral patterns. This is all about the mystery of the Incarnation or God assuming human nature.

Now as baptized Christians we are obliged to accept His invitation to know and love Him. He said to each one of us, “Come to me, all you who labour and are over-burdened, and I will give rest. Shoulder my yoke and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Yes, my yoke is easy and my burden light” (Mt 11:28-30).

We need the Mother and Lola/Grandmother of Jesus to help us in knowing and imitating the humanity of Jesus. On July 26 Feast of Mary’s parents Sts. Anne and Joachim, we end the Holy Mass with the prayer after communion: “O God, who willed that your Only Begotten Son should be born from among humanity so that by a wonderful mystery humanity might be born again from you, we pray that, in your kindness, you may sanctify the spirit of adoption those you have fed with the Bread that you give your children. Through Christ our Lord.”