ACC ~ Luke 2 v36 - 38

ANNA’S PROPHECY SHOWS THAT WOMEN WILL BE SAVED

ORIGEN: Because it was necessary that women too should be saved, after Simeon there came a woman who was a prophet. Scripture says of her, “And Anna was a prophetess, a daughter of Phanuel, from the tribe of Asher.” How beautiful the order is! The woman did not come before the man. First came Simeon, who took the child and held him in his arms. Then came the woman. Her exact words are not recorded. But the account says in general terms that “she gave praise to the Lord and spoke about him to everyone who was awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem.” HOMILIES ON THE GOSPEL OF LUKE 17.9. [1]

[1] FC 94:74*.

ANNA’S FATHER AND TRIBE BEAR WITNESS

THEOPHYLACT: The Evangelist continues with this account of Anna. He lists both her father and her tribe, so that we might be convinced he is speaking the truth. He is summoning, as it were, many witnesses who knew her father and her tribe. THE EXPLANATION OF THE HOLY GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. LUKE 2. [1]

[1] EBT 37.

ANNA REPRESENTS THE CHURCH WIDOWED BY THE DEATH OF HER SPOUSE

BEDE: In a mystical sense Anna stands for the church, which in this present world is as it were widowed by the death of her Spouse. Even the number of the years of her widowhood designates the time in which the church, continuing on in the body, sojourns afar from her Lord. Seven times twelve make eighty-four. And seven relates to the full course of this world, which was wrought in seven days. But twelve belongs to the completeness of the apostolic teachings. Whoever, therefore, whether the universal church or anyone of the faithful, devotes the whole course of life to apostolic labors, is praised as serving the Lord for eighty-four years.

The period of seven years during which she lived with her husband is in accord with the time of the Lord’s incarnation. For as I have said, the completeness of time is to be expressed by the number seven. Here because of the special quality of the Lord’s majesty, the simple number of seven years expresses, in sign of its perfection, the time in which he taught while clothed in the flesh. It also favors the mysteries of the church that Anna is interpreted as the Lord’s grace, that she is the daughter of Phanuel, who is called the face of the Lord, and descended from the tribe of Ashur, that is, blessed with children. [1] EXPOSITION OF THE GOSPEL OF LUKE 2.38. [2]

[1] Deut 33:24.

[2] SSGF 1:168-69*.

ANNA’S AGE IS SACRED

AMBROSE: Anna, who, by reason of her years of widowhood and her virtues, is set before us as wholly worthy of belief, announces that the Redeemer of all people has come. … Not without purpose, however, does he make mention of the eighty-four years of her widowhood, because both the seven twelves and the two forties seemed to imply a number that is sacred. EXPOSITION OF THE GOSPEL OF LUKE 2.62. [1]

[1] SSGF 1:180*; CSEL 32 4:74.