1 John 2 : 12-17 / Luke 2 : 36-40
Have we ever wondered what we will be doing, or what we will look like when we are 84 years old?
Or can we ever imagine what we will look like when we are 84? Well, looks aside, we will wonder what kind of a person we will be when we are 84. We will wonder if we will be grumpy and long-winded.
But going by the general attitude of our pragmatic society, we don't want to think something so far ahead, we may even want to avoid thinking about it.
Because in a society where the value of a person is measured in terms of productivity and efficiency, then an old person is a liability, a sort of weak link.
In fact, one of the common lament of the aged is that they feel useless and are just waiting to die.
But as we reflect on the gospel and on the 84 year-old prophetess Anna, an image comes to mind - the image of a glorious mellow sunset.
She was old, but nonetheless she was radiant and mellow, maybe even glorious in her own ways, just like the sun setting slowly and quietly over the horizon.
And we have among us many of these glorious mellow sunsets. When we look around we are sure to see those aunties, a bit bent, a bit slow in their steps, but yet coming everyday for Mass, with Rosary or a prayer book in their hands.
Their names may not be Anna, but they are very much like her. And like Anna, they also have gone through a lot, they also have seen a lot.
When we see them, let us acknowledge them, and say something loving and simple like: "Aunty, God bless you. Pray for me ok." They will be glad, they will be very happy to pray for us too.
In these old aunties as well as old uncles, we see the wisdom and the enlightenment that the 1st reading talked about.
They know that the world and all it craves for is coming to an end. But anyone who does the will of God remains forever.
Let us learn from them, these radiant and mellow sunsets, and let us live life gracefully by always praising and thanking the Lord.