This coming Sunday is the Feast of the Holy Family. This is nothing known of Anna apart from these verses. While the language is not exactly clear if she had been widowed 84 years or was 84 years old, either way she was elderly. There had been no prophet in Israel for hundreds of years, so it is noteworthy that God had raised up this prophetess. Perhaps she was recognized as such by Temple authorities given it is possible to understand that “She never left the Temple” to mean she had quarters in the Temple precincts.

There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived seven years with her husband after her marriage, and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple, but worshiped night and day with fasting and prayer. And coming forward at that very time, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem. 

We are not told the content of her prayer of thanks, but it is clear that she understood the connection between the promise of God to redeem Jerusalem and this particular child. Anna’s testimony is added to that of the angels (2:10–14) and Simeon (2:28–35), who respond to the appearance of this wondrous child by praising God and interpreting the significance of Jesus’ coming.

Return to Nazareth:  When they had fulfilled all the prescriptions of the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.”

Luke rounds off this part of his narrative with the return of Joseph and Mary to Nazareth. He makes no reference to the flight into Egypt (Matt. 2:13ff.) and there is no way of knowing whether he knew of it or not, and whether it preceded or followed the visit to Jerusalem. He speaks of the completion of the law’s requirements after which they returned to Galilee. Jesus’ childhood is described briefly in terms of development; there was growth, physical, mental and spiritual.

Image credit: Giotto di Bondone, Presentation of Christ in the Temple | Lower Church in the Basilica of San Francesco, Assisi | PD-US