The Sixth Day in the Octave of Christmas
December 30, 2023

Today’s Readings:

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/123023.cfm

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There was a prophetess, Anna,
the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher.
She was advanced in years,
having lived seven years with her husband after her marriage,
and then as a widow until she was eighty-four.
She never left the temple,
but worshiped night and day with fasting and prayer.
And coming forward at that very time,
she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child
to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem.

Luke 2:36-38

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Today, in God’s Lavish Mercy, we meet the venerable prophetess Anna. Oh, what she has to teach us!

• Perseverance: she had waited eight decades for the revelation
  
• Unconditional Faith: throughout those decades, she prayed always believing
• Pure Spirit: she believed that, like the pure in spirit, she would see God
• Unquestioning Receptivity to the Holy: when the Savior appeared, not in glory nor a fiery chariot, she received his vulnerability without hesitation
• Adoration: “She never left the temple,but worshiped night and day with fasting and prayer.”
• Sacred Satisfaction: “And coming forward at that very time, she gave thanks to God” because her faith and hope had been affirmed.

There is so much in this reading for each one of us. Find yourself somewhere within it today as you pray. Perhaps:

• Am I expecting God in every moment of my life?
• If I have received the gift of “old age”, how has the long wait blessed and/or challenged me to keep hold of God’s hand?
• If I am still “young”, how do I invite God into my unfolding journey?
• Am I asking God to continually reveal Divinity in my daily life?
• Am I purifying my heart of self-interest so that I can better perceive God’s Presence?
• Can I welcome God no matter how the Divine Presence clothes itself?
• Do I stay with my prayer, creating a deep temple in my spirit?
• Can I find contentment and peace with how God chooses to be with me – even in suffering?

(In a second post, I will share a powerful reflective poem by Leddy Hammock & Sue Kelly – Prayer of Imagination for Anna, the Prophetess. I hope you love this piece as much as do.)

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Music: While I Wait – Lincoln Brewster

https://youtube.com/watch?v=NswPPVgMaPE%3Fversion%3D3%26rel%3D1%26showsearch%3D0%26showinfo%3D1%26iv_load_policy%3D1%26fs%3D1%26hl%3Den%26autohide%3D2%26wmode%3Dtransparent