Thoughts for the Day

Luke 2:38 Coming up to them at that very moment, she [Anna] gave thanks to God and spoke about the child [Jesus] to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.

Two people come up to Mary, Joseph and Jesus while they are in the temple fulfilling this Levitical requirement of Purification, one a man nearing his death, the other a woman of 84.  How encouraging for Mary and Joseph. How encouraging for the “oldies” among us.  And indeed how instructive for all of us who would be used by God.  We read that both had Godly character: Simeon is righteous and devout, Anna worships night and day, fasting and praying and never leaving the temple. And we find two contrasting ways in which they become involved. Simeon was in the wrong place, so to speak, but open and obedient to the Holy spirit who prompted him to go to the temple.  Anna was in the right place, and God managed the timing.  I can’t help wondering what Anna declared to “all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem”; how many listened and how did they react?  But, thinking about the whole episode, why didn’t God move the High Priest to encourage the family?  Surely someone whose very role was to mediate between God and the people would have been a natural choice.  And imagine the impact!  But no, God didn’t choose a priest at all.  And we should be careful not to judge either the High Priest or God for that choice … any more than we should judge ourselves or God when he chooses to use someone else for something we thought we could do!