Today’s Scripture Readings

Gospel Reading

NRSV

There was also a prophet, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, having lived with her husband for seven years after her marriage, then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshipped there with fasting and prayer night and day. At that moment she came, and began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem. — 39 When they had finished everything required by the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favour of God was upon him.

It’s interesting that Anna of Asher was “of a great age”, just as Simeon (whom we heard about in yesterday’s Gospel) seems to have been, since he was ready to “depart in peace” once he saw the Messiah. Both people, then, who recognised Jesus as the Christ, the redeemer of Israel, were old.

First, it should remind us that God is never finished with us while we are alive. As we get older, we know that we are moving beyond certain possibilities in life, and this can make us think that our days of achievement or distinction are behind us. Certainly, it is true, as Ecclesiastes tells us, that there is a season to everything in life; but it is God who controls the seasons. And that same God may have plans for our twilight years that exceed anything we had hoped for in youth. If our hope is truly in God, we should still expect to be surprised, even if we think we’ve seen it all.

Still, one advantage of age is that we have seen a lot; and this can lend perspective if we’ve developed the capacity for it. And perhaps this points to the second reason for Simeon and Anna both recognising Jesus as the Messiah. For they were not simply old: they had also spent their years well, cultivating a receptiveness to God’s Spirit through lives of prayer and service. Age had not closed them down in bitterness, it had opened them up to new possibilities.

So, if you are “old”, or “getting older” (who isn’t?), don’t despair. There can be a special charism that comes with age, if we are open to it. Whatever time we have left, let’s cultivate this openness to the ever new, ever surprising plans of God.