Anna – The Devoted Witness
Welcome back, truth-seekers, to another profound episode of the “Witness Series.” I’m your host, Fr. Veigas Dominic SVD, and today, we open the pages of the New Testament to encounter a remarkable woman, an elderly prophetess whose life was a testament to unwavering devotion and patient expectation.
In this ninth episode of Season 7, we turn our attention to Anna, “The Devoted Witness.” After a lifetime dedicated to prayer and fasting in the temple, God granted Anna the incredible privilege of recognizing the infant Messiah, enabling her to proclaim His arrival to a waiting world. Her story is a powerful reminder that sustained faithfulness, and a life of devotion can lead to divine encounters and a profound witness.
Anna’s life resonates with us today because it speaks to the power of a life wholly consecrated to God, lived in anticipation of His promises. Her witness reminds us that even in advanced age, our spiritual zeal can burn brightly, and our testimony can be vital in proclaiming God’s truth.
Today, we’ll unpack Anna’s life, her powerful message as a devoted witness, and how her example can inspire our commitment to prayer, worship, and watchful expectation of God’s redemptive work. Let’s get started.
Who was Anna?
(Sound of soft, ancient temple music, with a background of quiet, persistent prayer)
Anna, a prophetess, is introduced in Luke 2:36-37 with poignant detail: “There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband for seven years after their marriage, and then became a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.”
Consider the depth of her devotion. Anna experienced marriage for only seven years before becoming a widow. Rather than retreating into despair or a life of ease, she chose a profound path of consecration. For decades – up to 84 years, though some interpretations suggest she was a widow for 84 years – she lived within the temple precincts, or at least spent virtually all her time there. Her life was defined by ceaseless worship, fasting, and prayer. She made the house of God her home, and seeking His face her constant occupation.
She embodied a deep, patient longing for God’s promised redemption for Israel. She was one of those faithful individuals described as “looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.”
Then came the pivotal moment. Mary and Joseph brought the infant Jesus to the Temple in Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord, as required by the Mosaic Law. As they entered, the aged Simeon, also filled with the Holy Spirit, took Jesus in his arms and blessed God, proclaiming Jesus to be the “salvation prepared in the sight of all nations” (Luke 2:30).
And just as Simeon finished, Anna, “at that very moment” (Luke 2:38), approached. Prompted by the Holy Spirit, and after a lifetime of devotion and watching, she too recognized the infant Jesus for who He truly was: the Messiah, the hope of Israel. Luke 2:38 continues: “Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.”
Anna’s witness was not a private revelation; it was a public proclamation. To a select group of faithful individuals who, like her, were waiting expectantly for God’s promised redemption, she became an eyewitness, verifying and announcing that the long-awaited Savior had arrived. Her life of hidden devotion culminated in a moment of public declaration, a powerful testament to God’s faithfulness to those who diligently seek Him.
