How many of us thought about Anna in today’s Gospel story? It is the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, and the Gospel tells us about this special day for the Holy Family.
I am trying to imagine how it all happened by thinking about the days that my own children were baptized or other infant baptisms that I have witnessed. Those are such precious times. I remember being so happy and enjoying the crowds of family and friends who came together to share love for a sweet child.
Is that how it felt for a Jewish family at the time of presentation in the temple two millennia ago? I wonder what Mary and Joseph were expecting when the took Jesus to the temple that day. As the Gospel says, it must have been astonishing to meet Anna and Simeon and hear that they saw Jesus and just knew! How did they know?
Also, I am trying to wrap my brain around the life Anna was leading. As I understand things, it was not the custom in those days for a woman to marry late in life, so if Anna became a widow after only 7 years of marriage and was an old woman on this day, she must have spent a very long time as a widow. The Gospel says she essentially spent all her time in the temple, so it makes sense that she was always listening for God’s message to her. Clearly, she was a good listener!
What can I learn from Anna? Do I spend as much time in prayer as I could? …as I should? Do I listen for God’s message to me? Do I recognize Jesus in everyone I meet, and do I treat people as sacred temples of the Holy Spirit? …all people?
What a beautiful feast we are celebrating today. It is a wonderful reminder of Christ in our lives.