The Reward of Righteousness

We’ve all heard it before. Good guys finish last. Watching just a few minutes of the nightly news and you might agree. Let’s face it. Our society rewards choices and priorities that we as Christians don’t follow. We choose to be righteous in the eyes of God but is that good enough.

Since yesterday was the Feast of the Presentation of Christ in the Temple, today the Church commemorates Saint Symeon. He was righteous and was the first to receive Christ as the Messiah in the Temple.

At that time, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Symeon and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. And inspired by the Spirit he came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the law, he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, “Lord, now let your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.” And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him; and Symeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is spoken against (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed.” And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher; she was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years from her virginity, and as a widow till she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. And coming up at that very hour she gave thanks to God, and spoke of him to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.

Luke 2.25-38

At that time, there was no doubt that Jews were second class citizens in the Roman Empire. Only those who aligned themselves with Rome had any honor or distinction. Even many of the religious elite chose Rome over Godliness.

Then there was Symeon who the Scripture calls “righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel.” God had promised to reward Symeon’s righteousness by allowing him to meet the Messiah before anyone else. Remind me again. Who says good guys finish last?

Being righteous doesn’t mean being without sin. It means being totally devoted to God’s principles and way of life. Symeon devoted his entire life to God and God rewarded him even if society did not. He will do the same for us.

When we choose to be righteous, we are choosing God over society. We are choosing the reward of heaven over the reward of those who care only for themselves. If you don’t believe me, pay attention when people shift their priorities.

Societal loyalties change and those who had been worthy of honor before are mocked as outcasts. We are honored by others only so far as honoring us benefits them. Once we have outlived our usefulness, we are cast aside.

There is only One who honors without a fault. God honors us not because it benefits Him. He needs nothing from us. He honors us as a reward for our righteousness and devotion. Saint Symeon wasn’t perfect. He was devoted.

If we want to be rewarded by God, we must change our loyalties. If you are worried about society casting you aside, be comforted knowing it will come now rather than later. Society will always cast us out. God will not.

Then we will have the privilege of Saint Symeon to pray, “Lord, now let your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.” In fact it is the prayer for every vesper service in the Church.

That’s my kind of reward.