There are two scenes in Luke 2:22-40 where the Holy Family (Joseph, Mary and the child Jesus) coincidentally are blessed by elderly persons. Here’s what happened:
Shortly after Jesus’ birth, Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the temple for purification rites, as was the custom. At the temple, they encountered Simeon, a devout and elderly man who had been waiting for the “consolation of Israel.” Guided by the Holy Spirit, Simeon took the child Jesus in his arms, praised God, and joyfully declared that, at long last, he had seen the promised Savior. Apparently, Simeon had been praying for a long time for this to happen. And it finally did!
When Anna, who is nearby in the temple, hears Simeon’s praises, she begins to tell others of the good news. Anna was a prophetess and an elderly widow who was in her 80s, and she spent her days and nights worshiping, fasting, and praying at the temple. And here we see that she is one of the first evangelists, telling others the good news.
My friends, may I invite you to draw inspiration from these two elderly figures, Anna and Simeon.
Maybe you yourself are an elderly person, OR maybe you are of the younger generation and blessed with prayerful, elderly persons in your family, your place of work, or your community. Either way, today we want to see how God uses the senior elderly to shine His light before others, and for building His kingdom.
First of all, I believe that the Lord has a special place in His heart attuned to the prayers of the elderly, especially those elders who have spent a lifetime of walking with God, interceding for others, and living a life of thankfulness. And because of that, God anoints the elderly to speak godly wisdom to younger generations, leaving behind a legacy of faith and prayer.
And to my younger friends: who are the “Simeons” and “Annas” in your life? I hope you take time to listen to their stories and learn from their faith. And please let them know how much you appreciate their prayerful devotion to the Lord. Who knows how many blessings you have received because your elders have been praying for you?
Second, to my fellow elders, the lives of Simeon and Anna show that faithfulness in our old age is not retirement from God’s work: it is a higher calling. We have a role to play in prayer, mentorship, and encouragement, even if we ourselves need prayers because of all sorts of health challenges that confront us. Remember, Jesus is closest to those who are weak, and that’s why, even when we’re in pain, our prayers for others are doubly powerful.
I love what is written in Psalm 71:17-18: “Even when I am old and gray, O God, do not forsake me, until I declare Your strength to this generation, Your power to all who are to come.“
And by the way, if you are one of my many elder contemporaries who feel that you’ve not yet given the Lord due recognition and devotion, do not despair. You are never too old to come to Jesus. The Lord continues to wait for you to seek Him, and for you to acknowledge His Lordship over you. It’s never too late to recognize God’s unfolding plan for you, to say “YES” to his calling, and to experience true, fullness of life in Christ.
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