Today's Gospel continues the story of Jesus' Presentation in the Temple at Jerusalem. Today we see the second person who approached Jesus and His parents. Her name was Anna and she is described as a prophetess, in other words a person who was a spokesperson for God. One does not often meet women prophets in the Scriptures; most of them are men. She was 84 years old and had been widowed after only seven years of marriage. It was a cruel blow in a society where widows were practically outcasts. But she was a deeply spiritual person who spent her waking hours in the Temple, praying and fasting. She also came on the scene just as Jesus and His parents were in the Temple. An accident or the Providence of God for a faithful believer - She, too, realised the true identity of the Child and gave thanks to God. From then on she began to speak about the Child to everyone, especially those awaiting the coming of the Saviour.

The passage reminds us of a few very important things: Our social status is of no consequence in God's eyes; to be close to God, prayer has to be a very important part of our day; Jesus can come into our life at any time and in any place - be it a church or a disco. Once we have come to know Jesus, we must share the experience with those around us.