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Probably Anna

31/1/2025

A Reflection on the Gospel for Sunday, February 2nd, 2025:
The Presentation of the Lord

Luke
2.22-32

When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, Mary and Joseph brought the child Jesus up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the Lord”), and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”

Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Christ of the Lord.

Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the law, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying,

“Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.”

Pause. Pray. Reflect.

I don’t do conspiracies, but I’m starting to think that the Mother of Jesus and Saint Luke are in cahoots about Anna.

Luke is a masterful writer. Scholars continually praise his accuracy for dates, historical figures and events, and the precision with which he identifies locations, especially in his travels with Paul.

In his account of the presentation of Jesus in the temple, Luke records Simeon’s words at length but tells us very little of what Anna says. Given his skill as a writer, it’s unlikely that Luke simply forgot to ask Mary or failed to remember afterwards. Nor would he deem Anna’s words to be unimportant due to sexism. Luke is always elevating women and underscoring their role in the Kingdom. And so, we are faced with questions: what did Anna say, and why are Mary and Luke playing coy about it.

Sacred artists have grappled with these questions. Anna seems to be a Rorschach test for what an artist thinks is important. Does the artist depict Anna as a key figure or merely a server? One researcher noted that, in the Index of Medieval Art, there is a female figure typically indexed as “probably Anna.”

The Church father Origen is in the dismissive camp. “Anna’s words were nothing remarkable, and of no great note respecting Christ,” he says, implying that she probably just repeated what Simeon said.

But Luke is clear: Anna is a prophetess — in fact, she is the only named prophetess in the New Testament — and simply being pious and old doesn’t merit that title. She is called “prophetess” because she speaks messages from God. Her words are not to be sidelined as the dithering of an old church mama, Origen.

In sacred art, Anna is often depicted holding a scroll. Again, what the artist chooses to write on her scroll is a clue to what the artist thinks of her. On her scroll has been written, “Blessed is the womb that bore thee”; “This child is set for the fall” (which would be weird because Simeon just said that); “This child created Heaven and Earth”; and “My heart hath rejoiced.”

I imagine a scene: Luke and Mary sit in her home in Ephesus as the Holy Mother recounts the story of Jesus’ presentation in the temple. She describes Anna, her age and the meticulous details of her life, building anticipation about the prophesy she is about to utter. At last Luke, writing tool at the ready, asks Mary, “What did she say?” And Mary gives a knowing smile, and replies, “Oh, just some advice from one widow to another.” Luke waits, expecting more, but Mary gazes off into the distance. And then Luke goes, “Oh, okay, um, then what happened?”

I keep coming back to that wonderful, humble term in the Art Index: “probably Anna.’” I am starting to wonder how much more in the lives of Mary, Jesus, and the Church can be filed under “probably Anna” — perhaps more than we thought. Perhaps we can find some “probably Anna” moments in our own lives, too. What would you paint on her scroll?

Kate Mosher

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Suffering Is Not a Punishment

30/1/2025

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A Reflection on the Second Reading for Sunday, February 2nd, 2025:
The Presentation of the Lord

Hebrews
2.10-11, 13b-18

It was fitting that God, for whom and through whom all things exist, in bringing many sons and daughters to glory, should make the source of their salvation perfect through sufferings. For the one who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one.

For this reason he is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters, saying, “Here am I, and the children whom God has given me.” Since the children share flesh and blood, Jesus himself likewise shared the same things, so that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by the fear of death.

For it is clear that Jesus did not come to help Angels, but the descendants of Abraham. Therefore he had to become like his brothers and sisters in every respect, so that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make a sacrifice of atonement for the sins of the people.

Because Jesus himself was tested by what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested.

Pause. Pray. Reflect.

I am going to be honest here, when I used to see passages in scripture that refer to suffering, I skimmed over them and carried on to the passages about love, mercy and eternal life. I struggled to understand how a loving God could permit suffering and, even more, use it for my salvation! That was until I began to experience migraine headaches.

When I was in my thirties, I experienced my first migraine, and I had no idea what was happening. I consulted my doctor and began a lo-o-o-o-ong journey of trial and error with regard to treatments to prevent migraines as well as options to get rid of them when they came on. Not only did none of them work, but the migraines increased in frequency.

On more than one occasion I was prayed over for healing, and I spent much time personally praying for healing of what has now been classified as chronic pain. I remember one of the first times I sat down and earnestly prayed for healing; the Lord very clearly told me, “My grace is sufficient for you.” Honestly, I was pretty disappointed! I have seen miraculous healings. I have heard others share their experiences of healing, and I wondered for many years why I was not worthy or loved enough to be healed.

After a few periods in my life when I would again return to praying for healing and receiving from God the same response — which I would promptly forget about because I didn’t want to hear it (although it always came back) — I began to focus on what the Lord might be trying to tell me. I began to pray for the grace to trust that the Lord would give me an understanding of what this suffering was meant for or about.

Gradually, I began to see that this world is not striving to be united with Christ; pretty much everything the world teaches is contrary to what the Lord is calling us to. So, in a world that says we should avoid suffering and detest it above everything, I am called to accept it and even rejoice in it! Rejoicing and accepting do not mean I am searching for pain or making myself suffer, but when I suffer I am sharing in the sufferings of Christ. When I accept my suffering, I am trusting in the Lord’s plan and not in the lies of the world.

A life of comfort and ease can lead me to believe I do not need the Lord. Suffering reminds me of how much I need the Lord! He alone can use my suffering for His glory and the good of the Church. Suffering reminds me that my life on earth is temporary and that suffering in this life can, if I permit it, lead me to eternal life.

If, as the author of Hebrews says, Jesus was tested through his suffering, why should I expect anything different? Why should I want anything different?

Sr. Teresa MacDonald

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Knock Knock

29/1/2025

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A Reflection on the Psalm for Sunday, February 2nd, 2025:
The Presentation of the Lord

Psalm 24

R. The Lord of hosts, he is king of glory!

Lift up your heads, O gates! and be lifted up, O ancient doors! that the King of glory may come in.

R. The Lord of hosts, he is king of glory!

Who is the King of glory? The Lord, strong and mighty, the Lord, mighty in battle.

R. The Lord of hosts, he is king of glory!

Lift up your heads, O gates! and be lifted up, O ancient doors! that the King of glory may come in.

R. The Lord of hosts, he is king of glory!

Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory.

R. The Lord of hosts, he is king of glory!

Pause. Pray. Reflect.

Knock knock.
Who’s there?
Thermos.
Thermos who?
Thermos be a better punchline than this!

I love a good knock knock joke. Granted the above may not be one, but it still made giggle! Knock knock jokes are often used as icebreakers, but they’re also an invitation. When you tell a knock knock joke, you’re inviting the hearer into conversation, albeit a short one. It is an interaction that results hopefully in a little laugh (or a groan!), which can lead to the start of a conversation. In that moment there is an opportunity to discover a new friend or simply share a light moment with another person. A knock knock joke can open a door. Yes, pun intended.

In this week’s Psalm, the writer speaks of gates and ancient doors – which makes me consider how I am opening the door for God, the King of Glory, to enter into my life. Of course, I’ve let Him in – but sometimes I go into another room and close the door on God. Maybe I’m mad at God, or I want to wallow in my woes by myself, or I just want to hide from God. More often than not, I close the door because I don’t want to bother God. I’ve got this – whatever “this” is in any particular moment in my life —and I can take care of it by myself.

Yet God continues to seek the door, the entry point back into my life, into my heart. Sometimes I forget that it was I who shut the door and that I have the power to open it again. Sometimes I call on God, yet I haven’t unlocked the door. And if I have unlocked it, I am sometimes hesitant to open the door all the way. Everything on my side of the door is as I like it. If I let God back in, then things change. It is no longer just me in my space with control over that space. And even though the Lord is “strong and mighty,” He’s not going bust the door down. The movement of that door is up to me. Whether I open it all the way, just a sliver, or not at all is on me. God will wait. Jesus will wait. The Holy Spirit will wait. The relationship God seeks with me needs my action, my response to the glory that God brings.

I thank God for His patience! He puts people in my life who remind me that God’s knocking on my door. Family, friends, coworkers, acquaintances and strangers who have let God enter their lives and transform them help me, through their witness, to open the door so that God may once again come in and flood my life with His glory, a glory that He calls me to share by witnessing Him in my life to others and, in turn, helping others to open the door to the goodness God brings to all.

So, hey … knock knock!

Aurea Sadi

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Am I Ready?

28/1/2025

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A Reflection on the First Reading for Sunday, February 2nd, 2025:
The Presentation of the Lord

Malachi
3.1-4

Thus says the Lord God: “See, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple. The messenger of the covenant in whom you delight — indeed, he is coming,” says the Lord of hosts.

“But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap; he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, until they present offerings to the Lord in righteousness. Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in the days of old and as in former years.”

Pause. Pray. Reflect.

This reading challenges me to ponder if I am indeed ready for judgment. I have generally thought of heaven as a destination point to arrive at when my earthly life is finished and that judgment would take place then. However, what if judgment is taking place daily? The question for me really is, “Am I ready now?” If today were my last day, would I hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant”?

In my immaturity I consider that the works I have done here on earth should “qualify” me. And yet I know that while the Lord desires the kind of works from me that will bring others closer to Him, what He desires even more is for me to receive the gift of salvation and to turn to Him constantly in trust and unwavering belief.

My earthly journey has seen its share of fire. The times that I have embraced it as refiner’s fire are the ones from which I have experienced the greatest growth in faith. When I opened myself up to the Holy Spirit and welcomed His cleansing fire, I realized the truth that He does indeed make everything new and good for those who believe. He has removed fear, eased grief, straightened crooked paths, and carried me and my sinful ways when I have turned to Him in faith. That’s the power of the refiner’s fire and fuller’s soap – running through me and seeking out my sinfulness to cleanse me of it.

I have been graced with miracles over and over again when He has taken situations that I had tried, in my humanness, to control and change and finally, fully, handed them to Him and left them in His hands. Some ask why bad things happen if there is a God. Bad things happen because we are human, and God takes those and helps us to learn. Once I have been refined by His fire, it is harder to return to my bad behaviour comfortably again. As Pope Benedict XVI said to the German pilgrims who had come to Rome for the papal inauguration ceremony, “The ways of the Lord are not easy, but we were not created for an easy life, but for great things, for goodness.”

Let us pray: Father God, thank You for the cleansing fire of Your Spirit. You are the greatest healer, scouring my soul for impurity and scrubbing me fresh again. Help me to always welcome the gift of purity and sinlessness and give me the courage to remain in the path of Your cleansing fire, so that I may be pleasing to You.

Sandy Graves

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Probably Anna

A Reflection on the Gospel for Sunday, February 2nd, 2025:The Presentation of the Lord

​Pause. Pray. Reflect.

Suffering Is Not a Punishment

A Reflection on the Second Reading for Sunday, February 2nd, 2025:The Presentation of the Lord

Pause. Pray. Reflect.

Knock Knock

​A Reflection on the Psalm for Sunday, February 2nd, 2025:The Presentation of the Lord

Pause. Pray. Reflect.

Am I Ready?

A Reflection on the First Reading for Sunday, February 2nd, 2025:The Presentation of the Lord

Pause. Pray. Reflect.

Archives

A Reflection on the Gospel for Sunday, February 2nd, 2025:
The Presentation of the Lord

Pause. Pray. Reflect.

A Reflection on the Second Reading for Sunday, February 2nd, 2025:
The Presentation of the Lord

A Reflection on the Psalm for Sunday, February 2nd, 2025:
The Presentation of the Lord

A Reflection on the First Reading for Sunday, February 2nd, 2025:
The Presentation of the Lord