A Long-Lasting Faith on the Margins

Anna's example to us.

Happy fifth day of Christmas!

Phanuel means “face of God,” fitting in that Anna, after so many years of faithfulness, recognized the redemption of Jerusalem when she saw the face of the infant.

The character of Anna is intriguing for anyone who might feel like their faith, in certain ways, is distant from the Church today. Luke tells us that her family was of the tribe of Asher. This tribe was one of the northern-most of Israel, further from Jerusalem, and when the northern kingdom fell, quickly exiled and assimilated by Assyria. It’s possible that someone from the tribe of Asher living in Jerusalem at the time of Jesus’ birth could have felt like a long-lost child of Israel. Anna’s connection to the tribe of Asher reminds us that God’s promises extend to all, even those who might feel forgotten.

In the midst of all these possibilities, Anna held firm to her faith, which Luke tells us was a prophetic one.

There are many of us today who may might identify. We love our faith, we want to see the face of God at work in the world, and yet it seems like we’ve been waiting for loving justice for a long, long time.

Luke 2:36-38

There was also a prophet, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, who belonged to the tribe of Asher. She was very old. After she married, she lived with her husband for seven years. She was now an 84-year-old widow. She never left the temple area but worshipped God with fasting and prayer night and day. She approached at that very moment and began to praise God and to speak about Jesus to everyone who was looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.

Isaiah 40:28-31

Don’t you know? Haven’t you heard?

The Lord is the everlasting God, the creator of the ends of the earth. He doesn’t grow tired or weary. His understanding is beyond human reach, giving power to the tired and reviving the exhausted. Youths will become tired and weary, young men will certainly stumble; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength; they will fly up on wings like eagles; they will run and not be tired; they will walk and not be weary.

Prayer

God,

Thank you for this new Sunday, the first in this season of Christmas. It’s foggy as I write this morning, a silent and beautiful world outside my window. I’m going to relate it to the on-going mystery of Christmas I very much love.

God, this morning my heart feels for so many people who want to be a part of a greater faith, but feel like they’ve been pushed out one way or another. I’m thinking of those who’ve dared to dream of wider territory in the confines we humans regularly set up for ourselves. Those boundaries people of faith too often establish, thinking we know all about morality and such.

Whether these people were or are right or wrong about it all…I don’t really care at the moment. I feel for their hearts, minds, bodies, and souls. For God - correct me if I’m wrong - I tend to not think they are being nefarious, but are seeking to put into action the loving justice of Jesus as they believe it.

So Lord, I pray that you would give them encouragement. Help us who remain in power in the Church to have the grace of Jesus for the righteous eyes that you have. Give us space in our hearts, sanctuaries, and board rooms for those we think do not belong. I’m confessing that we’re all wrong, in need of your righteousness and love.

By your spirit & in Christ,
Amen.