LOOKING FORWARD

PRAYER MOMENT

Monday 30 December 2013

 LOOKING FORWARD

Pause. “Be silent, be still, alone, empty before your God...”

Reading. “Anna came into the temple just at that moment and began to praise God; and she spoke of the child to all who looked forward to the deliverance of Jerusalem.” (Luke 2:36-40)  

Reflection.  Anna makes a brief appearance in Luke’s gospel like the widow of Nain. But unlike the widow she is given a lengthy introduction to establish her in the tradition of Israel as one who “looked forward.” The text says she looked for “the deliverance of Jerusalem” where the great city is a biblical focus for all human longing. A new year is always exciting – for a moment. Then we settle down to what goes for normal life. But it is a moment when the person of faith can come in touch with his or her deepest longing, when they can look forward to “deliverance” as a woman looks forward to the birth of her child. It may be a personal deliverance or a national one or even a global one, Straining forward in hope is what makes us human.   

Prayer. Lord, as we approach a new year, fill us with hope in your promises. As we rejoice in the birth of your Son as one of us give us the confidence to know what it means that he is with us. Amen.