Luke 2:36-38

"And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity;
And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.
And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem."
Luke 2:36-38


I think that this is interesting because it talks about some of the reactions to Christ's birth... and I don't know if we fully understand the impact of that.  We hear all the time about Christ being our salvation, our hope, our light... but what were we saved from?  I mean, if we only look at the massive difference between the Old and New Testaments we can see the impact that he had.  The Israelites were saved by God from slavery, and promised incredible things... but they kept acting like God was some horrible reality in their lives, limiting their 'freedom.'  Like scary teenagers whose parents have to practice "tough love" or something.  And God's tough love was the Law of Moses, which told them everything.  Do exactly this... no more and no less.  Attached were exact consequences.  If you do this, this will happen.  Many were banishment from the group, some were death.  Blood sacrifice... exactly what to eat and what to avoid to stay healthy and retain their community.  and all of these things symbolic as well, teaching them to look to this moment... when Christ would come into the world and fulfil that law, and offer another... that only he *could* offer, because he paid the price.  So, I think of Anna... so excited, and as a prophetess, really comprehending what was going on... and telling everyone she saw what was happening... how things were changing so amazingly... it was a completely new world, new way of life that he brought to us.  Sometimes even now, we are like the children of Israel... unable to live the higher law.  Stuck on details that keep us from being able to see the whole, the truth of the beauty and amazing hope that he brought to us.  But it is there...