Anna

Luke 2:36-38 - And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.

Anna can be a role model for us as we learn from the Gospel of Luke that she had exceptional devotion to the Lord. She spent her days and nights in prayer with fasting demonstrating that her heart’s desire was for the Lord and not for the things of the world. She spent every day in the temple of the Lord worshipping Him when she could have been anywhere else more interesting, comfortable, or convenient, but she chose the house of the Lord. She could have spent her time in the temple of the Lord chatting about her aches and pains at the age of eighty-four, but she gave herself to the praise of God instead.

Within my own church, there are Annas who faithfully come to church to worship the Lord despite physical sufferings. Their bodies don’t work as well as they used to, so they walk slowly, gingerly, and every step is strenuous. There are any number of excuses they could use not to come to church, but they exert themselves to come despite the difficulties. They enter with prayerful hearts, with smiling countenances, and a determination to receive Holy Communion.

What can we learn from the Annas in our own church? What stories can they tell us of their walk with Christ over the years and how the Lord has brought them through so much? Perhaps we ought to take the time to hear their stories and how they give thanks to God for His many blessings. This may mean that we have to stoop down to look in their eyes, wait a little bit longer for the story, and move in a little bit closer to hear their words, but what wondrous words of praise for God they might share with us.

Let us not forget the faithful widows in our church who don’t place their hopes and desires in worldly things, but have given their heart, mind, soul, and strength to Christ. Let us not overlook the wisdom they can share with us because the Anna in your church or my church may truly understand that Christ is the fullness of life.