Patience and the Old Woman Prophet (Luke 2:36-38)

Luke 2:36-38 36 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, 37 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. 38 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.

As a child, like all Jewish children from the tribe of Asher, Anna had been told the story of the coming Messiah. But Anna had had a difficult life. Her husband had died long ago and she had been a widow since. Apparently she had no one to care for her and no one to care for so she made the temple her home and worshiped there night and day, fasting and praying. She became a prophetess telling over and over the stories God gave her. I wonder if anyone really ever listened to this crazy old woman who lived in the temple. Apparently - according to those verses - the ones seeking the Kingdom of God did.

She had waited a long time with no evidence that the Messiah was coming....until the day that she saw Mary and Joseph and the baby!! She not only recognized the Messiah, but began to praise God and to speak about the child to those seeking the Kingdom of God (looking for the redemption of Jerusalem)!

All those years of praying and fasting were finally rewarded with evidence that she wasn't crazy after all.

Sometimes our work as followers of Jesus takes a lot of patience. Sometimes we tell the stories of God over and over before they seem to matter to anyone but us. But in the end, like Anna, one way or another we are going to see the Messiah! Be like Anna, have patience!

And we all know how easy that is!!?!? :-)