1 John 2:12-17 / Luke 2:36-40
What does it take to be a prophet? Of course prophecy is a gift, and those who have this gift are called to serve the community of the Church, along with others who discern the prophecy and clarified further with prayer.
Yet, going by criterion given by Jesus about prophets, a true prophet is judged by the fruits of his/her life.
The gospel called Anna a prophetess. She was described as well on in years and her days of girlhood were over.
She had been married for seven years before becoming a widow. She was eighty-four years old and never left the Temple, serving God night and day with fasting and prayer.
So she didn't seem to do the spectacular deeds or proclaimed oracles from the Lord, which were often associated with prophets from of old.
But when Mary and Joseph brought the infant Jesus to the Temple, she immediately sensed and recognized the presence of the Saviour.
And thereby she proclaimed her greatest prophecy - she spoke of the child to all who looked forward to the deliverance of God's people.
We may not be working miracles or proclaiming oracles. In fact, we may be living very ordinary lives, much like the prophetess Anna.
But like her, may we always live in the presence of God and serve God in the ordinary events of our lives.
In that way, we are proclaiming the presence of Jesus our Saviour to all around us. That already is as prophetic as it could be.