This man was righteous and devout
Being the eldest child of my parents, I informally assumed the role of the head of the family on the passing of my father. Therefore when it came to deciding on how to best deal with our ailing 94yr old mother, I felt the weight of leading the decision making process. I was also cognizant of my role as an ordained deacon.
It was in this state that I read a line in this week’s Gospel with particular interest. Luke 2: 22-40 ‘Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon and this man was righteous and devout’. I recognized in this line, God advising me that I should be like Simeon, righteous and devout.
But what is it to be righteous and devout? I turned to my biblical text books - There I found that righteousness in the Old Testament (Tsedaqah) is closely tied to the faithful correct worship of God and acting justly towards others. Abraham was a righteous man.
Jesus advanced the meaning of righteousness to mean seeking to live in a way God expects us to live, with Kingdom values. In Matthew 6:33 – ‘Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.’ Righteousness is attempting to live God’s way of life, more than just moral behavior.
As I reflected on my own responsibilities—both as the eldest son and as a deacon—I realized that it is not just about making the right decisions but about doing so with a heart surrendered to God, seeking His wisdom, and being patient in faith.
Friend, you also, may be struggling to discern the way forward in your life. If so, like Simeon, we are called to listen, to trust, and to wait on the Lord, knowing that in His time, He will reveal the path forward. This waiting is not passive but an active posture of faith, grounded in prayer and discernment. It requires patience, humility, and a willingness to surrender our own desires to God’s greater plan.
It is not about having all the answers immediately, but about seeking God’s wisdom in every step. Devotion, too, means remaining steadfast even when the way is unclear, trusting that God is present in the waiting. We trust that by seeking God first, we will find the grace to navigate the challenges ahead with faith and love.