Daily Gospel Reflection
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December 30, 2021
There was a prophetess, Anna,
the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher.
She was advanced in years,
having lived seven years with her husband after her marriage,
and then as a widow until she was eighty-four.
She never left the temple,
but worshiped night and day with fasting and prayer.
And coming forward at that very time,
she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child
to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem.
When they had fulfilled all the prescriptions
of the law of the Lord,
they returned to Galilee,
to their own town of Nazareth.
The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom;
and the favor of God was upon him.
The fourth joyful mystery of the rosary, The Presentation, immediately recalls Simeon’s famous prophecy regarding the baby Jesus in the temple at Jerusalem. Seldom, if at all, do we remember Anna, the prophetess who also came forward. Anna is one of the few women in the Bible whose background is mentioned in some detail. It is amazing how much we can learn from this snapshot into her otherwise hidden life.
I come from a society where family, marriage, and children are centered and valued. Single life, on the other hand, is often viewed as an impediment, especially for women. I wonder what Anna’s thoughts might have been as she spent all those years in the temple after her husband’s death.
Did she sometimes wonder why this calamity had befallen her? Were there times when she wished her life had turned out differently? How often did she question God’s will for her and ponder what her purpose was? If Anna had still been married, would she have been in the temple when Jesus’ presentation occurred? Would she have shared “about the child to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem?”
Anna’s steadfastness in prayer, patience regarding her reality, and trust in God’s love remind us that our worth is not tied to marital status or any other social category, but to our Creator. Her story further challenges us to find meaning and serve God in the mundane and quiet of every day.
Let us trust like Anna that as we strive to watch and pray, when the time is right, our seemingly ordinary, overlooked lives will proclaim the Good News to all who await the Lord’s salvation.
Prayer
O Lord, there are so many days when we can feel as if you are distant. We wonder if you are really there—if you will really come. Grant us the faith and patience of the Prophetess Anna and increase our trust in the promise of your coming. May our celebration of your incarnation remind us of your fidelity. Help us to recognize that you are always near, so that we might live out our days in faith and prayer, awaiting the joy of your coming again. Amen.
Saint of the Day
St. Anysia was a wealthy young woman in Thessalonica who was killed for her faith in the early fourth century.
She inherited a fortune from her parents when they died, and she used the money to assist the poor. She was also a faithful member of the local Christian community. A persecution prevented Christians from gathering in public, so the faithful gathered secretly. Anysia set out one day to join others in one of these secret assemblies when she was stopped by a soldier. He asked her where she was going. Startled, she made the sign of the cross. The soldier grabbed her and demanded to know who she was and where she was going.
“I am a servant of Jesus Christ,” she replied, “and I am going to the Lord’s assembly.”
“I will prevent that,” the soldier said. “I will take you to sacrifice to the gods. Today we worship the sun.” She struggled against him, and spat in his face—so he became enraged and drew his sword and killed her.
Later, when the persecution ended, Thessalonian Christians built a church on the spot where she was killed.
St. Anysia, the young woman who used her fortune to help the poor, and who was killed on her way to Mass, pray for us!
Image Credit: Our featured image of St. Anysia is available for use under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license. Last accessed November 7, 2024 on Wikimedia Commons.
