Luke 2:36-38

How little we know about his widow Anna!

Daughter of Phanuel, and who was he?

From the tribe of Asher, a lost tribe at that.

And she, widowed after seven years of marriage!

And yet she was a prophetess, rare indeed

In Israel who only counted seven in there history.

But daily came she to the temple court

To worship God with prayer and fasting.

One day the God who hears a widow’s prayer

Led her to the baby Jesus. With parents still

In wonder from the words of Simeon,

Anna touched the child and prophesied!

I wonder: Did some priest who stood nearby

Say, “Woman, be silent in the temple court.

Prophecy is left to men.”  Or did they think,

“Poor old dear, doting over a stranger’s child.”

But all we know is that God heard a widow’s prayer

And spoke to us through her prophetic gift.

That is al we know, but that’s enough.

Oh widows, far and wide, pray for us too.

C. Robert Wetzel

President Emmanuel School of Religion

Christmas 2007 (Card)