THE CIRCUMCISION OF JESUS CHRIST (JAN. 1ST)

By Bp. Joseph 

Today, Christendom celebrates the Feast of the Circumcision of Christ, which is the fulfillment of the Old Covenant in the Person of Jesus as the Jewish Messiah, so that “not one jot or one tittle shall in no way pass from the Law.” Christ came to humankind, was made a Jew through the Covenant of Circumcision, and fulfilled both the Law and the Prophets, so that all of mankind, both Jew and Greek, Slave and Free, could be reconciled with the Father. By the Sacrifice of Christ’s Blood, and through faith in Him, we are grafted into the New Covenant and become the New People of God through the Holy Mystery of Baptism in the Name of the Trinity. Baptism now replaces Circumcision as the entrance into the Church, regenerates us by the power of the Holy Spirit, and incorporates both men and women into God’s work of salvation and re-creation that Christ started in His Baptism in the Jordan by St. John the Baptist at the beginning of His earthly ministry (celebrated in just a few days). In Baptism, our bodies are not only cleansed, but our souls are laid open to God, our consciences purged, and God accomplishes an internal Circumcision of the heart. 

SCRIPTURE

“Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin. Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness. How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision. And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also: And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised. For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect.” (Romans 4:8-14 KJV) 

COLLECT 

ALMIGHTY God, who madest thy blessed Son to be circumcised, and obedient to the law for man; Grant us the true circumcision of the Spirit; that, our hearts, and all our members, being mortified from all worldly and carnal lusts, we may in all things obey thy blessed will; through the same, Thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who livest and reignest with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.