6th day within the octave of Christmas 


1 John 2:12-17

Psalm 95(96):7-10

Luke 2:36-40


HAVING A FAITH THAT NEVER WAVERS 


Today, we continue with yesterday’s gospel in which our Lord was presented in the temple by his mother Mary and his foster father Joseph. Here we see an elderly woman called Anna giving praise to God for the life of the Christ child, a remarkable widow whose entire life was a powerful testament to her unwavering devotion to Christ.



Although Anna enjoyed only seven fleeting years of marriage and faced her share of loneliness and loss, she dedicated the rest of her days to serving God through relentless prayer and praise, eagerly awaiting His merciful grace. She moved to Jerusalem to be near the temple—her spiritual home! Anna’s mission was clear: to please God. She was a constant, inspiring presence at the temple, living in fasting and prayer. William Barclay once remarked: She had known sorrow, but she had not grown bitter. She was old, yet her hope never faded. She worshiped endlessly. She prayed passionately.



When Simeon cradled the Christ child and proclaimed Him the long-awaited Messiah, Anna was there—exactly where she needed to be, at the temple, at that divine moment. Seeing her prayers fulfilled, Anna continued her incredible mission, sharing the amazing revelation she had witnessed.



The name Anna means grace—how perfectly suited! May God’s grace fill you as it did Anna, and may you exhibit the same dedication to our Lord, serving the Almighty and eagerly awaiting His merciful promise. Amen. 


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