Christian Reflection and Prayer

"The Widow of Christmas"

 Advent Devotions

Read Luke 3:36-38.
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. Luke 2:38

We have reached the sixth day of Christmas, and my wise
men are half way there. Today we will take one last look at
Jesus' presentation at the temple. Now that Simeon has
completed his words Anna steps forward. Luke tells us she is
an extremely old woman. She has lived 84 years, but it is
unclear whether Luke means she's 84 years old, or if she's lived
84 years since she became a widow. (If that's the case, she is
well over 100 years old!) Either way, she spends all her time in
the courtyards of the temple, fasting and praying.

At the very hour Simeon is speaking, Anna comes up to Mary,
Joseph, and Jesus, thanks God for His Son, and begins to speak
of Jesus to all those who have been waiting for the Christ. And
undoubtedly she will keep speaking about Him until the Lord
brings her home.

The Lord's choice to include Anna among those who saw the
young child Jesus is fascinating. Here is an elderly woman who
is widowed. Like many elderly widowed men and women of faith,
she could easily have asked, "Why am I still here? What is left for
me to do?" Anna shows us. We are never too old to share the news
about Jesus, never too old to make a lasting impact in our world.

In the later years of our life we can make a difference, even if we are
weak, sick, or confined to a bed in a nursing home. And as is true
all through your life, your attitude and your behavior will make all the
difference. If you are kind and grateful to those who help you, then
your words will carry great weight with those who attend and care for
you. But if you are bitter, short-tempered, impatient, and crabby,
your words -- and your faith -- will mean very little to them.

God has chosen each of us. He has washed away our sins in Jesus'
blood through Baptism, made us part of His family of faith, and
gathered us together to celebrate His great salvation. Each of us
finds ourselves at different points along our journey to our heavenly
home, surrounded with a unique circle of friends and acquaintances.
Like Anna, may God guide us to joyfully share the story of Jesus with
everyone we meet along the way.

THE PRAYER:

 Heavenly Father, thank You for choosing me among the multitudes
who have heard of Your Son and put their faith in Him. Strengthen me
to continue sharing His Name that many more may come to a saving
faith by Your Holy Spirit. I pray this in Jesus' Name. Amen.

(Lutheran Hour Ministries)