The Mosaic Law commands the
circumcision of all male children (Genesis 17:9-19, Exodus 12:43-49), which was
performed on the eighth day after the birth of the child (Leviticus 13:3). This
event took place in the Synagogue, in the morning. Jesus’ circumcision took
place in the Synagogue in Bethlehem. St. Paul explains: “In him you were also
circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self
ruled by the flesh was put off when toy were circumcised by Christ, having been
buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your
faith in the working of God, who raised him form the dead” (Colossians 2:
11-12). By this, Saint Paul wanted to claim that we are circumcised with a
spiritual circumcision, by the Holy Spirit.
Baby Jesus, being born during the
epoch of the Old Covenant, was circumcised, following the Jewish tradition.
Celebrating the circumcision of Jesus Christ is the Church’s answer to those
who believe that Jesus was a mythical
person, or that he did not have a body (heresy of docitism).
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