The Sixth Day of Christmas

The Sixth Day of Christmas

1 John 2:12-17; Psalm 96:7-10; Luke 2:36-40

There was a prophetess, Anna…
Luke 2:36

Merry Sixth Day of Christmas!  Let’s talk about Anna.  She’s an excellent example of Christmas joy.

As St. Luke relates to us, Anna had been married for about 7 years and then remained a widow afterward, never marrying again.  She was at this point quite old and she devoted her life to prayer and fasting at the Temple.  She comes in as Mary and Joseph are having Jesus offered to the Lord according to the Law of Moses.  When she sees the Child, she begins to rejoice for, being a prophetess, she is obviously given divine insight into who is before her.  There are a number of things to consider about Anna and this season of Christmas.

First of all, Anna shows that people of all ages have a part to play in the worship of our Lord and the proclamation of His coming.  St. John writes of three distinct ages in his letter.  “I write to you children… I write to you fathers… I write to you young men…”  He is likely using the terms in relation to spiritual growth or maturity.  Nevertheless, it reflects this same truth; that people of all ages are welcome and, in fact, ought, to be part of God’s plan to tell of the glorious coming of His Son into the world.

Second, Anna demonstrates that a certain piety brings one closer to God and enables prophetic insight into the divine plan.  Anna spent her life in prayer and fasting to come to this one moment.  Theoretically, without the prayer and fasting she would miss this moment.  This is how God works.  He prepares for a great length of time for a particular moment.  The Israelites were prepared by centuries of prophecies for the moment of Christ’s birth.  Our Lord Himself prepared for 30 years for the moment of His crucifixion.  Simeon, who was mentioned in yesterday’s reading waited a lifetime to see the Messiah.  And Anna has this moment as we said.

I don’t doubt that there’s a connection between the discipline of prayer and fasting and Anna’s prophetic gift.  It is not true that all prophets are characterized by prayer and fasting, though I think we can point to a number who are.  It is certainly not the case that all who practice a fervent discipline of prayer and fasting will be prophets.  Nevertheless, I think it’s reasonable to see a connection.

People tend to think of such piety as being dreary and even depressing.  It is probably the case that there are many who practice it that way, but it need not be so.  In fact, it ought not to be so.  Rather, the one who draws near to God in this way experiences a great and lasting joy.

With fasting one releases the legitimate things of the world.  “Do not love the world or the things of the world,” St. John writes.  We don’t often realize how entangled we are in it all.  Fasting recalibrates the soul for prayer.

With prayer one lifts the heart and the soul into heaven.  Our citizenship is in heaven, says St. Paul [Philippians 3:20].  Prayer brings us into our natural habitat as Christians.  The one who forms a vibrant life of prayer becomes a confidant of God.  God divulges secrets to that person.  So it was with Anna.

Finally, Anna demonstrates the fruit of overflowing joy.  Her joy at seeing the Savior results in her telling others about Him.  This is the most natural form of evangelization.  “Say among the nations, ‘The Lord is King.’”  We don’t need to preach to bear witness to Christ.  If He’s really impacting our lives we won’t be able to keep quiet about it.  The overflow of our praise is to bear witness to the goodness of God.  Others are drawn to Him as a result. 

I want to be like Anna.  I have praised the Lord in my youth.  I am praising Him now in middle age.  And I want to praise Him into my golden years.  I want to develop a life of fervent prayer and fasting.  I want to be free from the enslavements of this world so I can enter into the joy of our Lord.  I want to speak of His greatness to anyone who will listen.  This is Christmas joy and I think the world is in great need of a lot more of it.  Please join me, and Anna, and many others as we proclaim the great news- Christ is born for us today!

Merry Christmas!