SATURDAY DECEMBER 30, 2023
SIXTH DAY OF THE CHRISTMAS OCTAVE
1 John 2:12-17
Luke 2:36-40
THE VALUE AND GAINS OF THE CONTEMPLATIVE LIFE OF ANNA
The prophetess Anna has great significance not for anything else but for her detachment from the world, her spirit of prayer and austere life in the temple. And for these, she was honoured and granted special favour and blessing.
Anna witnesses and exalts the child Jesus at the presentation in the temple. She received the special favour to be present and witness the event, when Mary and Joseph brought the Child Jesus to perform for him what the law requires. In her old age of eighty four after just marrying for only seven years, she turned to God and adopted a contemplative life style, visiting the temple, fasting and praying in the temple, undertaking the vocation of interceding for the world.
That was a special kind of calling which demands a flee from the world, a discipline to uphold and a life that is austere and sacrificial. Anna went all the way out living this life. The scripture has no other way of describing Anna but just that, “She did not depart from the temple, worshipping with fasting and prayer night and day.”
This is basically what every Christian is called to do as we welcome our saviour into the world. First, Saint John in his epistle, our first reading of today admonishes us on the need to flee from the world. The attachment from the world is necessary for our life in Christ. Without detachment, we may be deprived of the benefits of Christ’s life and blessings. In the words of Saint John, he reasons, “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the pride of life, is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world passes away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.”
It is because of the temporal nature, the passing shadow of the world that makes it imperative that we do not get engrossed with the world. In relating with the world therefore, we must know that it passes away. So our use of temporal things of this world is for a time and it must be for the reasons of achieving our eternal salvation. So we must stop seeking unnecessary pleasures, powers, and even possessions as if they are ends in themselves.
Our resolves must be to live the life of contemplation like Anna the prophetess, who fled from the world. Her life was glazed with total submission of her entire world to God, by visiting and praying in the temple. That is, living in close union with God, talking and in communion with God. She even threated her body with severe fasting and total abstinence. She gave testimony of the nothingness of this world. She disciplined herself to the point of finding nothing in the world except the Lord Jesus whom she discovered in the temple.
This attitude of Anna is also one that is patient, and entertains long suffering and devotion of oneself to the callings of the austere life. This, in fact endeared her to gain the privileges and blessings of knowing Christ, and witnessing to the salvation in Christ.
We can follow her in this vocation too and gain the blessings of drawing close to our Lord Jesus Christ and living in Christ. As our reason for celebrating the birth of Christ is to be drawn nearer to him, to live in him and to abide in his promises.
Heavenly Father, in the spirit of the prophetess Anna you teach us detachment from the world and a life of contemplation as sure way to gain your blessings and be admitted into eternal life. Lord, grant us the spirit of contemplation and prayer, the urge to detach from the world and the life of purity and sanctity. May this Christmas celebration bring us your blessings, favours and eternal salvation through Christ our Lord.
Fr Norbert Uchuno
