I Have Waited So Long

This is Part 2 of the Journey to the Divine…Its called 

“I Have Waited So Long”

Later After Jesus is born He is taken to the temple for ceremonies required for a new born. 

Luke as part of the birth narrative takes interest in a story of a women at the temple.

It’s interesting that Luke would record this story. It seems to be almost lost by the story of Simeon before but there’s something he wants us to know. I waited So Long

Luke 2:36-38

There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37 and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. 38 Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.

What possibly could we learn from this obscure women who is called a prophetess. The only women to be given this title in the New Testament and perhaps the whole Bible. We need only consider the brief sketch that Luke provides us about her.

She is a women far advanced in her years…84 to be exact. 

As a young boy I was told that growing old is no fun. I now understand that…everyday my body finds a new way to betray me. Aging bodies and pain often robs us of our strength and the hopes that we once had until we surrender to accepting things as they are….the spark of life begins to fade. It will, also cause us to consider our mortality drawing us even closer to God or because of bitterness further away.

Anna is also a widow: she knew sorrow at a very young age. Sorrow as the result of lost can do one of two things: it can make us bitter people who become resentful and hard. Blaming others and God for our circumstances and robbing us of our faith. 

Sorrow can also make us better people…in time become kinder, more sympathetic to the pain of others rooting our faith deeper in God by seeking refuge and shelter in Him.

Anna despite her age, tiring body and the pain of loss chose to seek after God where she spent hundreds of days in His presence

Worshiping and prayer and fasting. It was because of her choice to stay in the presence of God rather than run that her failing body and sorrow did not work their poison.  Because of her choices she was given the blessing of laying eyes on the messiah the one who would change the trajectory of all history and for those who seek him their hearts.

Will the child born in Bethlehem live in your heart on e day of the year or all the days of you life. Or will the poisons of life have their way with you? 

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