There are certain times in our lives to whic
h we eagerly look forward. Some of them have names like confirmation, graduation, birthday, and wedding. Others tend to be more of a passage or rite, such as getting a long-awaited driver’s license, reaching the age to vote, or seeing a first grandchild.
There are other times in our lives that we try not to notice, such as when we find that first gray hair, when the kids leave behind an empty nest, when a spouse dies, or when we realize the years ahead of us are fewer than those behind. Some people handle these times gracefully, while others never seem to get a grasp on them.
There was a woman in the Bible who faced the times in her life with grace and dignity. Stepping into the pages of Scripture for only three verses, she preaches a powerful sermon about age and love, contentment and mercy.
Her name is Anna, which significantly means “full of grace.” A little information is provided about Anna’s past. Luke, the only gospel writer who mentions her, tells us she was from the tribe of Asher and the daughter of Phanuel. Anna was a prophetess. Prophets were to proclaim the message of God, and that she did well!
Luke especially emphasizes the fact that Anna was an elderly woman who had lived a difficult life. Her husband died after only 7 years of marriage, so her memories were clouded by 84 years of widowed life. Widowhood brings with it the pains of loneliness, and Anna was likely no exception. Yet loneliness was not something she dwelt upon. Anyone looking for Anna would find her hard at prayer in the Jerusalem temple. There she filled her lonely life with thoughts of hope and anticipation. Luke writes that she “never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying” (Luke 2:37). What a lesson she teaches us today! Regardless of our ages, we will never graduate from the school of “fasting and praying.” We will never achieve a point in our lives when God says to us, “Well done. Now for the rest of your life, you can retire from ‘prayer and fasting.’” No, Anna serves as a fine example of an ever-growing faithfulness. Her spiritual life was always active and alive.
One day Anna’s visit to the temple was rewarded with the sight of someone who brought tears to her old and failing eyes. Year after year she waited for the coming of the Messiah, her Christ, her Savior, and her salvation. For nearly 100 years Anna kept her sights on the promise of a deliverer, a master, and a friend who had been promised at the Garden of Eden. Finally her dream came true. Who should Anna meet on this special day but the young couple Mary and Joseph. Immediately Anna knew who they were and what was in the bundle they carried, for there before her very eyes, she saw the eight-day-old Jesus. There was the infant who would one day wash away her past and give her a future. “At that very moment, she gave thanks to God” (Luke 2:38). We need not ask what she was thinking. Her thoughts were glowing in her eyes.
We might wonder if Anna would now be ready to sit down comfortably and fade into history. Not Anna! The Bible ends Anna’s story by saying that she “spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem” (Luke 2:38). No rocking chair for Anna! She just applied for the job of missionary. Anna’s new assignment was just beginning!
Like 80-year-old Caleb, 120-year-old Moses, and 100-year- old Anna, although our ways of serving God may change over the years, our responsibility does not. That’s all part of the joy of service for those belonging to the family of God.
Gracious Lord, give us the eyes of Anna, that we too might see our Savior as the answer to our assurance of salvation. Amen.
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