Contagious Joy

~~~1 John 2:12-17 ~~~ Psalm 96 ~~~ Luke 2:36-40 ~~~

There was a prophetess, Anna...

...She was advanced in years...

...She never left the temple,

but worshiped night and day with fasting and prayer.

Anna dedicated her life first to her spouse in marriage.

After losing her husband in death, she consecrated

 herself to a life in the temple.

Being advanced in age she was also advanced in wisdom.

She had learned how to be still and listen to the voice of God.

Anna focused her life on prayer and fasting.

She fed her soul with the holiness of God

 and her body came to need little food.

In the early days of her pregnancy Mary

visited her older cousin, Elizabeth.

When Elizabeth saw Mary 

she felt the child in her womb leap for joy.

She herself recognized Mary was carrying the Messiah. 

Now another senior woman comes forward

to recognize the infant Jesus

as the Messiah.

Anna lived as a cloistered religious woman.

It was her vocation to always pray.

Anna lived a modest simple life in the temple.

Anna saw that the favor of God was on Jesus.

Even as a widow of advanced years,
Anna experienced great joy.
It bloomed in her soul and spread out on her face.

She was infected with the joy from this swaddled babe.

Her joy was a true reflection of the joy emanating 

from this 'holy' family.

I pray that you too are Blessed
with the gift of Joy.

You are never too old
to be filled with the joy of the Lord.

~~~Peace~~~
JOY
to the World!