This is the second blog in the series on women who blessed children around them. This woman mentioned in the Gospel according to Luke.
Anna is an unusual aged woman in the
Bible. As a widow she might have faced many years of loneliness in
her life. Number of years she lived as a widow was much more than the
total number of years she had lived with her husband and with her
parents. It is not clear whether she had children. If she had
children most probably she would have been living with them. Any how,
she decided not to dwell in these sorrows and misfortunes. She turned
her from a life of misfortune to the life of a prophetess.
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| They are waiting for us |
Another factor is her decision to take
up the journey to live in the temple. She traveled a long way from
her tribal territory of Asher to come to Jerusalem. We do not know
for how long she had been living in the temple without leaving that
place. We read that she was a worshiper, a never ending worshiper of
God. She worshiped day and night. She had a life of fasting and
prayer. This shows she is a adherent worshiper of Yahweh.
Anna's worship and devotion came to a
climax as she saw the child of Joseph and Mary who is the fulfillment
of all she believed and practiced. She blessed the child by her words
and action. When she came to know in her spirit that Messiah had
arrived in the temple, she came to him. She not only she came to him
but also gathered all those who were waiting for the Messiah. She
spoke about the child. She gave thanks to God for sending the
Messiah. Thus she praised God and became a channel to lead others to
praise. Knowing all the unusual qualities of this aged widow, I can
guess that people noticed and listened to her words about the baby.
She became the third woman to believe that Jesus is the messiah next
to Mary and Elizabeth. Yet she became the first woman who publicly
announced the truth that Jesus is the Messiah. And she did so in the
temple.
What a source of blessing she became to
Joseph and Mary and also for the child! Many had a questions
regarding the father of this child. Neighbours of Mary and Joseph
might have had a lot of unanswered questions before he was born and
after he was born. Yet Anna brought joy to the life of this family by
affirming that this boy is the Messiah. She indeed blessed the baby.
Can you imagine living a life of
misfortune as Anna lived? How many of us are willing to lift up our
eyes from our sorrow to God to wait upon Him in prayer? How can we
turn our misfortunes to be a life of blessing to children who may not
be accepted by others? There are many women among us who live in
their past sorrow. Unlike many, Anna decided to enjoy her life by
being a worshiper who sought the coming of the Messiah. Thus she not
only saw the child but also blessed the child.
Jesus took children in his arms and
blessed them whom his disciples thought were not worthy to be touched
by Jesus. How many of us notice children as they walk through the
doors of our churches? Or are we immersed in our own sorrows and
joys? Or in our own private spirituality? How many of us recognize
the need of affirmation in the life of the children we see? Or are we
busy with our own credentials as a prophet or worshiper of God? Take
time to bless a child.
