Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
After living in New Jersey for the past seven years, I’m finally beginning to understand why the people are so busy and stressed. It’s not because of the population density, traffic, or cost of living. But here on the east coast, there is a culture of success that breeds anxiety. A culture where people identify themselves with their accolades and lose purpose when they feel useless. I love New Jersey and it’s a shame that its residents don’t love themselves. In the time I’ve been here, I constantly find myself battling this utilitarian culture, both externally and internally.
Most recently I was having this conversation with a friend about the importance of action vs prayer. While both are undoubtedly necessary, I have always believed that prayer trumps the former and innocently believed that all Christians thought the same way. In the midst of finding my belief to be challenged, Anna the prophetess came to mind. A woman important enough to be named in the bible is someone to be inspired by. What else can she inspire in us but fasting and prayer? She never left the temple! While some might argue that she is wasting her gifts and talents, I argue that it was in her prayer she found the real meaning of gift:
“She gave thanks to God.”
Is this not all God wants? For us who live consumed by this world, we do not know how to “offer due sacrifice”, so we clumsily try our best to be helpful and effective. Anna who lived consumed by God was able to give Him the greatest sacrifice, that of her thanksgiving and presence.
This Sunday is an invitation to be present to reality. Not reality as we see it, but reality as God has created it. This is a reality where our greatest weaknesses are only pebbles in God’s plan. Doesn’t that sound great? To not have the weight of the world on your shoulders. To be able to rest without feeling wasteful of your time and efforts. A reality where our gifts are given to us simply for the sake of knowing Him and not for pleasing Him. Anna prophesies “to ALL who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem”. And aren’t we included in that?