PRI Reflections on Scripture | The 6th Day in the Octave of Christmas

Join Msgr. Don Fischer as he reads and delivers a short reflection on today’s gospel, followed by 3 1/2 minutes of contemplative music and a closing prayer. Msgr. Don hopes that today’s reflection on the gospel will empower you to carry the Word in your heart throughout the day.

Choose either the video or audio below.

Gospel 

Luke 2:36-40

There was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived seven years with her husband after her marriage, and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple, but worshiped night and day with fasting and prayer. And coming forward at that very time, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem.

When they had fulfilled all the prescriptions of 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 favor of God was upon him.

Reflection

When someone is being infused with truth and they know something and believe it so deeply, it is very hard to change their mind.

And what we see in this story of Anna, a prophetess, is her diligence in seeking a truth, an awareness. She was in the temple always, and what she was always seeking was some understanding, some knowledge of what was going to happen when the Messiah actually came.

She longed for it, she fasted for it, she struggled to understand it. And then she's rewarded in the sense with an invitation from God to be present in the temple when Jesus was there with Mary and Joseph, and she knew somehow, deep inside of her, this was the new beginning of Christianity.

Closing Prayer

Father, keep us vigilant. Keep us seeking always a desire to know you, to find you, to receive your gifts. We get distracted, we get so many other things going on in our life, but bless us with a focus on what is most essential, our understanding of who you are and what you are doing in our life for us. And we ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Kyle Cross