倘若亞納十三歲出閣，二十歲守寡。她應該仍有生育能力。結果她在聖殿裡一共渡過了六十四年，從沒有離開過（路2:37）。可能她的丈夫是獨生子，沒有兄弟或近親娶她代兄之嗣；又或者她是素來不育，沒有子女可供依靠。她的經濟狀況，無從稽考，不知她有沒有財產供她終老，或者聖殿有沒有供養寡婦的制度，但從來沒有聽過。無論如何，她並沒有怨言，而且她見證了大黑落德擴建聖殿的工程。耶穌清理聖殿，是因為司祭在管理聖殿時貪污。所謂「冰封三尺，非一日之寒」。聖殿的貪污可能由來已久，亞納有機會親眼看見過。發生在她身上的不幸事件，和所見所聞的不公義事件，並沒有令她憤世嫉俗，沒有摧毀她愛慕和事奉天主的熱誠。「正在那時刻，她也前來稱謝天主…講論這孩子。」她仍然可以稱謝天主，甚至向對天主的救恩滿懷希望的人，講論耶穌基督。（2:38）
從女先知亞納身上，我們可以反省到基督徒為耶穌作見證的基本條件：
第二，一切從感恩開始。亞納向人講論嬰孩耶穌，可能是來響應西默盎的見證。但她首先來是為了稱謝天主，其次纔是講論耶穌。因為，作見證的第一步是感恩。倘若我們沒有足以感謝天主的經歷，又如何向人宣講自己蒙恩得救的經歷，鼓勵別人也接受耶穌基督的救贖。
第三，認識我們的聽眾。亞納並非向所有人講論嬰孩耶穌，而是「向一切希望耶路撒冷得救贖的人，講論這孩子。」雖然我們應該有教無類，但始終我們更應該照顧那些渴望得救的人。對暫時沒有興趣的人不要失去耐性，對想認識更多的，應有系統地教授要理。
第一，心懷怨懟的人不適合做先知。且看約納先知的故事，天主派他勸人悔改，到頭來天主要幫助約納悔改，改變他對罪人的偏見。亞納的際遇足以令她怨天尤人，但她並不懷有這樣消極的態度。
天父啊！願祢的名受顯揚，願祢的國來臨，願祢的旨意奉行在人間，如同在天上。亞孟。
To Fight Against Resentment with Gratitude (Luke 2:36-40)
If Anna was married at 13, she would become a widow at 20. She should still be fertile. In the end, she spent 64 years in the Temple without leaving. (Luke 2:37). Perhaps her husband was the only son and there were no brother or near relatives to fulfil the Levirate law. Or perhaps she was barren. She bore no child to support her. We have no clue of her financial situation, not knowing if she had property to support her up to the end. Nor have we heard of any system with which the Temple helped widows subsist. Anyway, Anna did not grumble. Furthermore, she had witnessed the Temple extension project by Herod the Great. Jesus cleansed the Temple because priests mismanaged it with corruption. It must have existed for a long time and Anna must have seen it. The pitiful fate that befell her and the injustice she witnessed did not turn her cynical, or destroy her desire to love and serve God. "And coming up at that very hour, she gave thanks to God and spoke of the child ..." (2:38) She still praised and thanked God and spoke of Jesus Christ to those who were looking for God's redemption.
From Anna the prophetess, we can reflect the basic conditions for Christians to bear witness for Jesus:
Secondly, everything begins with gratitude. Probably Anna followed and echoed Simeon's witness. But first of all she came to give thanks to God. Only after that did she speak of Jesus. The first step of witnessing is gratitude. Without anything to thank God for, what salvific experience can you share with the others, encouraging the others to receive the redemption of Jesus Christ?
Thirdly, know your audience. Anna did not speak of baby Jesus to all, but "to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem." Although we should preach to all without prejudice, we should pay more attention to those who desire salvation. For those who do not show any interest at the moment, we will not get impatient. But for those who desire to know more, we should give systematic instructions.
Firstly, it is not suitable for resentful people to be prophets. Look at the story of Jonah. God sent him to tell people to repent. In the end, God had to help Jonah repent, to change his prejudice against sinners. Anna's fate did not make her resentful. She did not harbour any negative attitude.
Heavenly Father, holy be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Amen.
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