Anna's Madness - Episode 27
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, and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. 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. When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.
LUKE 2, 36-40 (NIV)
At the end of the year, we often reflect on the meaning of life, inspired by stories like that of the prophetess Anna in Luke Chapter 2. Her long wait in the temple for the Messiah is akin to our anxious anticipation of a loved one's return from a long journey. In our hectic world, Anna's devotion through fasting and prayer stands as a model of patience and commitment. Her encounter with Jesus was like welcoming rain after a prolonged drought. This biblical story illustrates the value and fruitfulness of waiting. Iranian author Tahereh Mafi, in "Shatter Me," wrote: “Hope wraps me in its embrace, comforts my tears, and tells me that today, tomorrow, in two days, everything will be alright, and I am crazy enough to believe it.” Was Anna crazy? - What about us?