Nativity Fast - Day 24 || Daily Devotional || Rev. Fr. Dr. Timothy (Tenny) Thomas (USA)

Day 24 — Blessed Are the Waiting

“And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him” — Luke 2:25

Waiting is rarely celebrated. We live in a world that prizes speed, answers, and immediate results. Yet Scripture blesses those who wait—not because waiting is easy, but because it refines the soul. Simeon does not rush the promise; he carries it. His righteousness is shaped not by urgency, but by patience sustained by hope.

Simeon’s waiting is not passive. It is watchful, prayerful, and open to the Spirit. He does not know when the promise will arrive, only that it will. Over time, waiting has formed him into a vessel capable of recognizing Christ when He finally appears—small, hidden, and easily missed.

Saint Ambrose captures this quiet transformation when he writes, “Waiting refines the soul.” Patience does not delay holiness; it deepens it. Waiting strips away impatience, self-reliance, and false urgency, making room for trust. Hope matures when it is tested by time.

During the Nativity Fast, we are invited into this same posture. We wait for Christ not only as a memory of Bethlehem, but as a present coming into our lives. Often, what God is preparing in us during the waiting matters as much as what we are waiting for. Simeon’s long hope ends not with disappointment, but with fulfillment held gently in his arms. Waiting teaches us to receive Christ without grasping.

Practice patient prayer today. Set aside a few quiet moments without asking for anything—remain before God. Let waiting itself become our offering. In patience, hope deepens, and the soul is made ready to recognize Christ when He draws near.