30 December 2020
The Sixth Day in the Octave of Christmas
We receive a seemingly random little fact about this prophetess, Anna: her father’s name was Phanuel, and he was of the tribe of Asher, one of the so-called “lost tribes” of Israel. Asher, named after the eighth son of Jacob, was a member of the Northern Kingdom until that part of the Holy Land was conquered by Assyria, and its members deported. Some remained, and 2 Chronicles 30:11 mentions that “…some from Asher…humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem” to celebrate Passover, at the king’s request that the entire nation gather to do so. Thus we can assume Phanuel, and Anna, come from a diminished tribe, and likewise a once-estranged tribe, for whom it was not easy to set aside their pride and come to the Temple with their brothers of Judah. Anna herself had a sad life, having been widowed most of her life. She whose name means “favor” or “grace” would see the sign of God’s favor—the Christ Child—who would one day draw all people to Himself (John 12:32), who would send out His apostles first to “…the lost sheep of the house of Israel…” (Matthew 10:6), gathering in all those once carried away. Her tribal name—Asher—means “happy, blessed” and though she and her tribe have a history of tragedy, this day is a day of great joy, for like Simeon she has seen what she has desired; faith and sight see the same thing. She worshiped day and night with fasting; she now sees the Bread of Life (John 6:35) come down from heaven (John 6:41); she prayed, and now she does not hear but sees, with her own eyes, the Word of God become flesh (John 1:14). Let us strive to imitate Anna, longing for Christ through fasting and prayer, creating a space in our hearts for Him.