SATURDAY, DEC 30
Luke 2: 36-40
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.
Grace: I ask for the grace to know Jesus in a deeper way that I may abundantly love and follow him.
At the time she met Jesus, Anna was of the age and wisdom of a grandmother. What did she see in Jesus after years of waiting, watching, wondering and faithful prayer? Children universally do one thing unreservedly well: they emanate love, peace and joy. It is as though having come so recently into the world they remember the sweet warm breath of God whispering in their ears, “Go and be a blessing.” Anna, being a devout woman never left the temple but spent her years praying and fasting, hoping that one day hope would turn to flesh. It did, on the day that she met Jesus.
Have you ever held a baby to your heart only to have every sense rekindled? I remember holding my granddaughter in the afternoon after her Baptism. Her parents asleep, taking a long, needed siesta, did not see my delight as I held her. Every sense was awakened: Holding such softness I could look down at her uneven smile and smell the scent of the oil of her Baptism. As I was kissing her I came away with two gifts, a slight salty taste and the universal small grunt of contentment. Later I asked her parents to skip the bath for one day that I might tenderly cling to this warm fragrance of love. With no time to linger I took one last breath to savor for the long journey home.
Children call us to live life with a little more generosity, in a gentler fashion and with a purity of heart which long ago having darkened we wait to recover. The delight of entering into the joy of Advent is there for each of us who reverence innocence and goodness. Jesus, let me receive you as Anna did, gratefully and with hope-filled expectation.
For Reflection and Prayer:
Remember someone in your life whose goodness brought you to a deeper awareness of Christ among us.
If you feel moved to do so express a prayer of thanksgiving.
Recall the last time in your life when you experienced wonder? Ask Jesus for the grace to receive wonder in your life again.
You may wish to end your prayer experience with some music:
The Contributor:
Mary Wilder, MA Sp. is a retreat leader, teacher and spiritual director in San Antonio. She has been blessed to both receive and to guide others through the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola in daily life. You may contact her at: mawilder@earthlink.net
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Excerpts from the Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States of America, second typical edition © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC. Used with permission. All rights reserved. No portion of this text may be reproduced by any means without permission in writing from the copyright owner.