Anything

"At that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem," Luke 2:38.

Who did this? Anna, a prophetess. The nonagenarian who lived at the temple. What did she do there? Worship God, fasting and praying. Day and night. When did she come up to Jesus' parents like this? When they came to the Jerusalem temple for the customary post-partum rituals. And what did she talk about? First, she gave God thanks. Second, she talked about their child, Jesus. To whom did she talk? To anybody there looking forward for Jerusalem's deliverance. What does that mean? These people hoped that God would do something. For Jerusalem. That is, for Jerusalem as it represented God's people. Which is to say, these people's only hope rested in God's doing something. Anything at all. And Anna said: See this child? God's doing it!

With a brother or sister today, we reflect on God's faithful, steady work throughout the ages, despite our cycles of warmth or coldness to him. And, together, we marvel in thanksgiving for this God who remains so loyal for our hope.