Day 20: Stitched
36 Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity; 37 and this woman was a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. 38 And coming in that instant she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem.
Luke 2: 36-38
After Simeon’s painful prophecy, Anna draws near. A widow of many years, she was no stranger to the brokenness of a fallen world, enduring loss and remaining faithful. Was this some foreshadowing of Mary’s future estate? Did she sense a kindredness to Anna and recall it upon her own loneliness? Anna awaited the advent of Messiah. Mary would await the advent of her risen son. Each in their ways, knew a loneliness, but remained faithful through it. Each in their own ways finished their race, short of what they had hoped. Anna was blessed to see the birthed Messiah, but would pass long before any fruition of His kingdom. Mary would hope in the glorious return of her son to rule and reign on earth, but He would tarry much longer. Each caught glimpses of their hopes, enough to sustain them through ordained but darkened days.
It is advent that reminds us of hope, the hope that does not disappoint, but it does point us further. We will not find all of our wishes and comforts fulfilled in life. The hope of advent sustains us in a way that carries us beyond our current circumstances, whatever they may be. Whether under the weight of suffering sorrow or poverty, or the disappointing dissipation of wealth, the hope of the coming of Jesus bears the thread of our faith along, sewing it into the heavenly kingdom which lies beyond our current vision.
In this way we find ourselves kindred with Mary, Anna, and so great a cloud of witnesses who have gone before us. Each sowed a faith, sewed a hope, and reaped a harvest of heaven-tailored joys stitched by their savior and stored up in a kingdom presently over the horizon.
