Homily for Monday, December 30th - The 6th Day in the Octave of Christmas

In the opening two chapters of the Gospel of Luke, we encounter several faithful individuals, including the elderly widow Anna. Alongside Mary, Joseph, Zechariah, Elizabeth, and Simeon, Anna stands out due to her age—eighty-four years old—and her dedication to the Temple, where she remained day and night, devoted to prayer and fasting.

Typically, when we consider serving God, we think of active roles such as visiting the sick or elderly, providing food, or addressing various needs in the community. However, Anna served God differently: by staying in the Temple and engaging in constant prayer and fasting. Her life of devotion served as a powerful testament to God's work in the world.

When Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the Temple, Anna praised God and spoke about the Child to everyone who awaited salvation. Through her prayer, fasting, and sharing of Jesus' story, Anna became a significant witness to God's ongoing activity in our lives.

Anna's example reminds us that there are many ways to serve God, with prayer being one of the most crucial. In prayer, we surrender ourselves to God, and through this service, we can become empowered—just as Anna was—to share God's presence with those still yearning for His arrival.