When eight days were completed for his circumcision

1 JANUARY (Lk 2,16-21)

Circumcision was the sign in the flesh of belonging to the Lord’s people. With it one became a true seed of Abraham. He became child of the promise.

God also said to Abraham: “On your part, you and your descendants after you must keep my covenant throughout the ages. This is my covenant with you and your descendants after you that you must keep: every male among you shall be circumcised. Circumcise the flesh of your foreskin, and that shall be the mark of the covenant between you and me. Throughout the ages, every male among you, when he is eight days old, shall be circumcised, including house born slaves and those acquired with money from any foreigner who is not of your blood. Yes, both the house born slaves and those acquired with money must be circumcised. Thus my covenant shall be in your flesh as an everlasting pact. If a male is uncircumcised, that is, if the flesh of his foreskin has not been cut away, such a one shall be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant.” Then Abraham took his son Ishmael and all his slaves, whether born in his house or acquired with his money – every male among the members of Abraham’s household – and he circumcised the flesh of their foreskins on that same day, as God had told him to do. Abraham was ninety-nine years old when the flesh of his foreskin was circumcised, and his son Ishmael was thirteen years old when the flesh of his foreskin was circumcised. Thus, on that same day Abraham and his son Ishmael were circumcised; and all the male members of his household, including the slaves born in his house or acquired with his money from foreigners, were circumcised with him. (Cf. Gen 17,1-27).

With the prophets the Lord wanted another circumcision. No longer the one of the flesh, but that of the heart. One was of the Lord if his heart was free, pure, holy and faithful.

If you wish to return, O Israel, says the Lord, return to me. If you put your detestable things out of my sight, and do not stray, Then you can swear, “As the Lord lives,” in truth, in judgment, and in justice; Then shall the nations use his name in blessing, and glory in him. For to the men of Judah and to Jerusalem, thus says the Lord: Till your untilled ground, sow not among thorns. For the sake of the Lord, be circumcised, remove the foreskins of your hearts, O men of Judah and citizens of Jerusalem; Lest my anger break out like fire, and burn till none can quench it, because of your evil deeds. Proclaim it in Judah, make it heard in Jerusalem; Blow the trumpet through the land, summon the recruits! Say, “Fall in, let us march to the fortified cities.” Bear the standard to Zion, seek refuge without delay! Evil I bring from the north, and great destruction. Up comes the lion from his lair, the destroyer of nations has set out, has left his place, To turn your land into desolation, till your cities lie waste and empty. So gird yourselves with sackcloth, mourn and wail: “The blazing wrath of the Lord is not turned away from us.” In that day, says the Lord, The king will lose heart, and the princes; the priests will be amazed, and the prophets stunned. (Jer 4,1-9).

With circumcision Jesus becomes a true son of Abraham, a bearer of the blessing.

So they went in haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known the message that had been told them about this child. All who heard it were amazed by what had been told them by the shepherds. And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them. When eight days were completed for his circumcision, he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

St. Paul declares unnecessary circumcision for salvation. This is accomplished through faith in Christ Jesus. Salvation is by faith, not by the flesh. It is by Christ Jesus not by the tradition of the Fathers, or by a purely ritual law.

You were running well; who hindered you from following (the) truth? That enticement does not come from the one who called you. A little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough. I am confident of you in the Lord that you will not take a different view, and that the one who is troubling you will bear the condemnation, whoever he may be. As for me, brothers, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case, the stumbling block of the cross has been abolished. Would that those who are upsetting you might also castrate themselves! (Gal 5,7-12).

Virgin Mary, Mother of the Redemption, Angels and Saints give us true faith in Christ. Give us the true circumcision of the heart, mind, thoughts and will.