Our Venerable Father Euthymius the Younger, the Holy Venerable-Martyr Lucian, Priest of Great Antioch (312)
Philippians 3:1-8; Luke 7:17-30
Read Philippians 3:1-8
We are the true circumcision, who worship God in spirit.
In the ancient world, the Hebrew people were oddballs. They insisted that their God was the creator of the world, and not a part of it. They insisted that they were His chosen race, and had the history of Moses, Joshua, and the Kings to prove it. The land that God chose for them, was largely barren desert, constantly fought over by warring civilizations. Their legal code, inspired by God, was exceedingly advanced for their time. They were oddballs.
Probably the strangest thing about them, at least for outsiders, was the sign of their dedication to their God: circumcision. This outward sign, borne by all Hebrew men and boys eight days and older, was a sign that they are consecrated to the God of heaven and earth.
And here Paul tells the Philippians, that we, Christians, are the true circumcision. For us, the mark of our consecration to our God is how we worship Him in spirit. Do I dedicate my life to Him daily? Do I strive to love my family and others around me constantly? Do I seek to forgive those who wronged me? Do I offer thanksgiving, especially at the Sunday Liturgy, to God with all of my being?
Living like this will make us just as strange to others as the Hebrews were in the time of the Old Testament. But that’s okay because whatever our trials in the world are, we gain Christ. We gain eternal life and joy by living out our earthy days full of life and joy.
As Paul, says, rejoice in the Lord. Rejoice and worship him in spirit. Give thanks to Him at all times, and you will be counted among His chosen people.