The Circumcision of Our Lord, God and Saviour Jesus Christ; Our Father Among the Saints Basil the Great, Archbishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia (379)
A day when the faithful are highly encouraged to participate in the Divine Liturgy.
Read
Colossians 2:8-12; Hebrews 7:26-8:2
Luke 2:20-21, 40-52; Luke 6:17-23
Christ is born! Glorify Him!
Today we celebrate the feast of the circumcision, and naming, of our Lord, God and Saviour Jesus Christ. It may seem like an obscure feast to celebrate eight days after the great feast of the Nativity, but this event is part of God’s greater plan to sanctify and redeem His people. Today, the author of the Law submits to the Law so as to fulfil the Law.
Circumcision was a ritual which brought men into a covenant relationship with the One True God and reminded them that they are called to be different than other nations. Those who are in a covenantal relationship with God are called to Holy as God is Holy. To do this one must cut off the sinful desires of the fallen human nature and cling instead to God. Baptism is the fulfilment of circumcision. It is all-embracing and inclusive: men, women, children, Jews and Gentiles are all invited to enter into a covenantal relationship with the One, true and living God in and through Jesus Christ, who is the fulfilled of the Law and our source of righteousness.