Thursday 30 December 2010

Bible Book:
Luke

"At that moment (Anna) came, and began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem." (v. 38)

Luke 2:36-40 Thursday 30 December 2010

Background

The meeting with Anna follows on from Mary and Joseph'sencounter with Simeon in the Temple, and serves to confirmthe truth of Simeon's words about Jesus. 

Anna was a prophet, a woman of faith and devotion, who had beenwidowed for many years (verse 37). She too has been watching andwaiting in the Temple, and now that Jesus has come, she too beginsto praise God and to speak of Jesus to "all who were looking forthe redemption of Jerusalem". Perhaps too there is a pointer tothat moment in Luke's Gospel where Jesus will himself come to weepover Jerusalem (Luke 19:41-44). 

There is a sense in which Anna and Simeon together represent allthe faithful people of Israel, longing for God's Messiah to come.Moreover in Anna, we also see another theme from the Old Testamentbeing fulfilled, as an aged (and presumably barren) widow is ableto delight in the birth of a young child which will fulfil God'spromises. 

The passage closes with a reminder that everything which has takenplace was done as "required by the law of the Lord" (verse 39).Jesus and his family then return home, to Nazareth in Galilee. Itis there that he grows up and becomes strong, "filled with wisdom"for "the favour of God was upon him" (verse 40). 

To Ponder

Anna, it is said, never left the Temple but spentall her time in prayer and fasting. How much do we value theimportance of prayer in our lives?

Anna and Simeon are two old people who play animportant part in sharing the joy of Jesus' birth. How far in ouracts of celebration do we enable people of all ages, old and young,to join in?

How can their (ie Anna's and Simeon's) exampleencourage us to ensure that young people among us grow in wisdom aswell as strength?

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