Father, today's reading below serves as a wonderful reminder of how important it is to keep 'hope' close to my heart. Anna had plenty of reasons to lose hope, as she moved through Life's disappointments, trials and tribulations day after day. Actually, the older she became, the more her hope increased. Her hope was so strong that she expected only Goodness from You. She counted on it. If not, she would have given up a long time ago, but she hung in there and clung to her hope and Faith. It was her commitment to You every single day without fail that kept her going, which in turn only increased her hope and Faith.

Anna was anything but cynical or skeptical as she prayed one more day the next day. Here we go again. Anna simply did not budge. Picturing in my mind how Anna chose to worship You at the Temple everyday to feed her hope, this scene caused me to wonder, what do I do that feeds my hope and Faith? I know that anything I desire takes action on my part, including my hope and Faith. As the Scripture says, "Faith without works (action) is dead." (James 2:14-26) If I have Faith, then I must 'do' something. You want to see some action that supports my claim of Faith. I must feed my hope and Faith with action, and my hope and Faith is in You. While You feed me, I must feed you. We feed off each other.

Thank You for this wonderful awareness today, for reminding me that taking action, including taking action on my hope and Faith, is entirely upon me and rests on my shoulders. I must do something. Thank You!

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Luke

Luke 2:36-40

36 And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phan'u-el, of the tribe of Asher; she was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years from her virginity,

37 and as a widow till she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day.

38 And coming up at that very hour she gave thanks to God, and spoke of Him to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.

39 And when they had performed everything according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth.

40 And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon Him.

The Gospel of the Lord
Praise to You Lord Jesus Christ

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