Monday 02 January 2012

Background

Traditionally in many Church calendars, the feast of the namingand circumcision of Jesus is celebrated on 1 January (or the dayafter if 1 January is a Sunday), and this is based on a singleverse (Luke 2:21). Today's passage takes us from the heights of thenativity story, with shepherds and angels praising God, down tomore intimate and ordinary rituals as family life begins. A Jewishboy is given a name at his Brit Milah ceremony ('covenant ofcircumcision'), usually on the eighth day after birth, performed inthe home or a synagogue. This is a traditional sign of belongingthat goes back to God's covenant with Abraham (Genesis17). It is still practised by many Jewish families today,although some choose not to circumcise.

Jesus' circumcision is not given much attention by the NewTestament writers, probably because it was such a common rite ofpassage in their experience but possibly also because circumcisionhad become a controversial issue in the early days of the growingChurch consisting of Jews and non-Jews. The name of Jesus,meanwhile, is a deeply meaningful and powerful subject: a namegiven by an angel (Matthew 1:21; Luke1:31), a name that means 'God saves', a name already associatedwith Joshua who led the Israelites into the Promised Land, and aname that would come into its own after the resurrection as theChurch invoked it as the power of God over the forces of evil: alight against darkness.

The circumcision of Jesus marked him as a child of God within thecovenant family of Abraham. The name of Jesus is itself a mark ofall those who would call themselves Christian: baptized in the nameof Father, Son and Spirit, praying in the name of Jesus, and tryingto live in the name of Jesus. It is this sort of 'circumcision'that Paul urged his confused readers to strive for: a sense ofbelonging to Christ based not on outward appearances or rituals butrather a "spiritual circumcision" (Colossians 2:11). Paul says that "realcircumcision is a matter of the heart" (Romans2:29). John Wesley, in his sermon The circumcision of the heart preached on 1January 1733, said "circumcision of the heart implies humility,faith, hope, and charity": the true worship of the heart that is"continually offered up to God through Christ, in flames of holylove". When the name of Jesus cuts into Christian hearts it shouldcause us to join Mary and the shepherds in glorifying and praisingGod with all we've got.

To Ponder

Infant christenings, dedications and namingceremonies all have their roots in this ancient Jewish practice.How important is it that we mark the birth of children inceremonies before God?

Read Deuteronomy 30:1-6. This is an assurance ofGod's faithfulness for all the times to come, and a promise of whatGod will do. How does this passage speak to you?