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The 6th Day of Christmas
St. Luke’s Institute
December 30 2014
ANNA IS PRESENTED
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Mary
& Joseph have presented child J in temple & St. Luke notes presence of
woman named Anna
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Only
place Anna mentioned in Gospels, but we’re able to get insight into her &
lesson 4 ourselves
ANNA: AS STEADY
FAITH ++++++++++++++++++++++
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For
starters Anna’s been widowed for many years – probably 60
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Knows
hardship & sorrow, but she’s not grown negative or bitter
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Instead,
she comes across as positive & peaceful person, a person of steady faith
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She
has dealt well with adversity
ANNA: AS ELDERLY
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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2nd,
Anna is old – 84 yrs – but she’s not lost hope
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Sometimes
age can take away not just strength of our bodies, but also the strength of our
spirit
Ø
Age
can cause the dying of our hearts and souls, but that’s not so with Anna
Ø
Luke
says she still gives thanks 2 God & looks forward 2 the one who’ll be a
savior 4 G’s people
ANNA: AS PERSEVERING
+++++++++++++++++++++++
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3rd,
perhaps the reason for Anna’s peacefulness & hope is her perseverance
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Gospel
says, w/ a bit of exaggeration, “She
never left the temple, but worshipped night and day w/ fasting & prayer.”
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It’s
easy to pray when we feel like it
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But
Anna apparently prays day in and day out, when she feels up & when she’s
down. It doesn’t matter
Ø
That
perseverance in praying has payoffs 4 her: inner peacefulness, hope 4 the
Savior, & now insight 2B able 2 identify Savior in the child, Jesus
APPLICATION ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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So,
a simple, elderly, widowed woman becomes a model for us all
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Steady,
faithful, persevering prayer – tending R relationship w/ G every day, no matter
what – can also help us have peace, hope, and insight into how G’s present 2 us
now & what G wants of us
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Anna,
a model for our living and our thanks to St. Luke for remembering her for us
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