Tuned to the Spirit

Presentation of the Lord

There was also a prophet, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped there with fasting and prayer night and day. At that moment she came, and began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem. Luke 2 :36-38

     A piece of the story from the day of Presentation highlights Anna, the Prophet.  She  gets very little mention in the retelling of the story and in the sermons that are often preached upon this day.  It would be easy to think, well, she is a woman and an old woman at that—a person of little consequence then and now.

    But, I think this omission or slight is more about the prophet Anna than the woman.  In fact, she does appear, which tells us something about her importance, doesn’t it ?

     Prophets are, in general, an odd group who give themselves up to fasting and praying at all times and places.  They are uncomfortable examples of a deep devotion to God.

     Nobody wants to be a prophet, and yet, those who are called and can give their hearts to God in this way have been the guides of nations and groups of the faithful.

     Anna has been waiting a long time for a glimpse of God-or at least that what it looks like.  My suspicion is that glimpses of God were her bread and butter.  Her attentiveness to the Spirit caused her to be there that day when Jesus came to be presented  Because she was familiar with the sound and tone and touch of the Spirit, she knew that God was there.  She recognized Jesus, because she already knew Him.

            We can follow Anna’s example beginning today.  We, too, can pray and fast and listen for the sound of the Spirit.  We can tune our hearts to God’s music so that we will have glimpses of the Holy each day AND recognize it !

Blessings,

Debra