Happy New Year! This is the time for making New Year’s Resolutions, right? Those are all predicated on the idea that if I can just change my lifestyle, then the change I’m hoping for will come. In some cases, that works! But in other cases, that’s a little unrealistic.
Perhaps part of what you’re considering as we begin a new year is how you might “be a better Christian.” You know what I mean: actually finish that Bible-in-a-year reading plan, pray every morning and every evening right before bed, make it to church more regularly, start listening to more Christian podcasts or reading Christian books — there are all kinds of options for things we can do that we think will put us on the right path with God.
The Galatian church was wrestling with a similar issue:
There was an influential group in the early church called the Judaizers. They insisted that all Christians had to conform to the Mosaic Law.
After all, Jesus was a Jew who observed all the rites, customs, and made the necessary sacrifices. And one of the most significant customs of Judaism is the circumcision of the males. God instituted this practice as a sign of the covenant he made with Abraham, and God ratified it during the days of Moses with the giving of the law. And Jesus himself was circumcised!
In fact, today is a feast day in the church year, and it’s a feast day with a name that strikes us as, well, odd and even uncomfortable: Today (Jan 1) is the Feast of the Circumcision and Name of Jesus. By the Jewish counting system, today marks 8 days after Jesus’ birth on Christmas. And all Jewish boys were circumcised and named on the 8th day after their birth.
Why is this a feast day in the Church? And what does that have to do with the Judaizers and St. Paul’s letter to the Galatians?
We celebrate the circumcision of Jesus because it signifies his complete adherence to the Law for us. All of the “doing” that the Law demands has already been done by Jesus. Being part of God’s people is no longer cultural or genetic, but something we participate in through faith. It’s not shared among blood relatives, but shared through the blood of Christ.
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At St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Gibbon, Minnesota, God has gathered a congregation where all ages are present, from newborns to grandparents. We are united in Christ through the historic liturgy. Children are a visible and joyful part of our life together, with active Sunday School and youth ministries woven into the fabric of our community. Here, every generation receives the saving benefits of Christ through His Word and Sacraments. Whether you’re listening nearby or far away, you’re welcome to join us in person or online.
Visit us: 63924 240th St, Gibbon, MN 55335 | (507) 834-6676 | splcgibbon.org
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