Growing Old Gracefully - Family Reflection Video

How can we grow old gracefully? Maybe Anna from the Bible gives us the answer. First, she never lost hope. Second, she never ceased to worship. Third she never ceased to pray.

Although Anna was very old, she never lost her hope that she would see the Messiah. Led by the Holy Spirit, she was among the first to bear witness to recognize Jesus as the Messiah.

As an 84-year-old woman with a long widowhood, she must have had much sorrow during her life.   “Sorrow can make us hard, bitter, resentful, rebellious toward God. Or it can also make us kinder, softer, and more sympathetic” (The Daily Study Bible Series, William Barclay, P. 27)

But Anna remained steadfastly positive. She never ceased to hope. She kept her hope alive through unceasingly worshipping and praying to God.

As a prophetess, Anna was close to God, and spent her life in God’s house. Luke tells us “she never left the temple, but worshiped night and day with fasting and prayer” and never ceased to tell people about the expected child. Since elders were respected in the Jewish culture, people listened to her message. As Christians we should encourage older people to share their wisdom and knowledge.

Today, we do not have to live in a house of worship as Anna did, to be close to God and grow old gracefully. When Jesus the Messiah left this world following His death and resurrection, He left us with hope: hope that He would return to earth, not as a baby, but as a king.

He promised to be with us always, to send His Holy Spirit to comfort us, and to prepare a place for us that we can be with Him always. And He left us His Church to be part of as individuals and as families.

As part of His Church, we can worship and pray together. We can sing and celebrate with liturgy. We can pray Scripture such as the Psalms or the prayers that St. Paul prayed for the young churches. We can pray prepared prayers such as the Rosary and impromptu prayers from our hearts.

As worship and prayer become increasingly part of our lifestyle, we will draw closer to Him and grow old gracefully. The hope for eternal life with Him is our sure hope.

How can you follow Anna's example to grow old gracefully?

• Father Pinto's inspirational homily was recorded live this morning during Mass at the Father Peyton Center. Please view the video on our Facebook page. (You don't need a Facebook account to view.) 

• To view Rosary prayer and Mass streaming live, please visit our Facebook page at 11:30 am EST, Monday – Friday. Please invite your loved ones to join us too! (You don't need a Facebook account to view.)