Circumcision of the Lord

Then God said to Abraham, "As for you, you must keep my covenant, you and your descendants after you for the generations to come. This is my covenant with you and your descendants after you, the covenant you are to keep: Every male among you shall be circumcised. You are to undergo circumcision, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and you. For the generations to come every male among you who is eight days old must be circumcised, including those born in your household or bought with money from a foreigner—those who are not your offspring."

Genesis 17:9-12

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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.

Luke 2:21

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Today, on the octave of Christmas, the Feast of the Circumcision is traditionally celebrated. In the New Order, the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God is observed on this day. The intent of both solemnities is the same, I think: to emphasize that our Lord, immortal God, truly became man, with a human mother, and with human flesh that could be cut like all flesh.

In His circumcision, we can observe a faithful observance of the law, and perhaps a foreshadowing of of the shedding of our Lord's blood on Calvary.

Our Lord received His name on this day, as noted by St. Luke. In 2006, His holy name is particularly honored by the Latin Church on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week.

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Circumcision was the sign of the old covenant between God and Israel. Through Christ Jesus all nations are offered a covenant with our Father in Heaven and the sign of the new covenant is baptism.

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In [Christ] you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the flesh, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.

When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross.

Colossians 2:11-14

Is any man called, being circumcised? Let him not procure uncircumcision. Is any man called in uncircumcision? Let him not be circumcised.

1 Corinthians 7:18