Lisa Sheffler, author
Whenever it’s possible, I love a big family gathering for the holidays. The more the merrier. Yet, during those celebrations, there are moments when the joy of being together is interrupted by the memory of those who aren’t there. Like many of you, I’ve lost people that I love — grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles, family friends, and a parent. At the holidays, the sting of grief can be a little sharper. Which is why I am so grateful to have the assurance that death doesn’t get the final word, because Jesus, our Messiah, has defeated it.
This week we’ve been preparing for the first Sunday of Advent, and we’ve focused on the hope-filled anticipation that we can experience, even during wearying seasons of waiting. Today we’re reading about Anna, who along with Simeon is shown waiting and watching for the Messiah to arrive and experiences firsthand the faithfulness of God to his people.
Read
Luke 2: 36-38
36 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.
Reflect
Anna makes a brief but significant appearance in the Christmas story. She was a woman who knew heartache and loss, yet her focus was always on God. At the loss of her husband after so short a time, she didn’t stay locked in her grief. Anna had not wasted her life in bitterness, fear, or resentment. She waited in faith to see the Lord’s promises fulfilled. And she didn’t just wait, she prepared. For decades she had worshipped, fasted, and prayed. At 84, she had gained wisdom and an intimate knowledge of the Lord, and by his grace, saw the face of God incarnate.
Luke introduces her as a prophet, which meant her word carried weight. What is her reaction when she sees Jesus? She knows he is the key to Israel’s redemption. God had not forgotten his promises to Israel.
God is faithful and he has not forgotten his promises to us. God is the great Redeemer. He redeems the losses and the heartaches. He turns what is intended for evil into good. From a sinful rebellion in the Garden of Eden to a sinless Savior being nailed to a cross, God redeems.
For some people, particularly those going through a hard time, Christmas can feel like too much. Too much glitter and lights, red and green, jingle bells and presents under the tree. Too much food and drink and holiday music. Too many forced smiles. Are we just fooling ourselves? Trying to lose ourselves in distractions? Not if we peel back the wrapping paper to the heart of Christmas.
Christmas is not about papering over the tragedies in the world, or pretending for a few days that everything is just fine. It’s about faith in the God who loved us so much that he came in the flesh to redeem the lost and enslaved. It’s about hope that he will see his plan all the way through to its final consummation, the restoration of his people and his creation. It’s about showing love for others and bearing one another’s burdens when life seems like too much.
This is why for generations, the church has observed Advent. The Lord has come, he is here, and he is coming. He is our hope. Let’s anticipate and prepare for his arrival.
If you are going through a difficult season, how can Anna inspire you? Pray that the Lord will fill you with hope. If you are doing O.K. this Christmas, how can you encourage someone who is struggling? Who can you reach out to and check on?
