CIRCUMCISION OF JESUS - ST JOSEPH'S DUTY

 

“Every male among you shall be circumcised... it shall be a token of the covenant between you and Me.” - Genesis 17:10-12

Eight days after the birth of a son, the Law required that the Infant Jesus be circumcised. This rite was prescribed by God to Abraham as a sign of His close union with His people. The circumcision of a son was not just a “procedure” back then, but a solemn and joyful occasion. This meaningful ceremony was fulfilling the Jews’ part of their covenant with God. This sacred rite was so family oriented that it didn’t even have to take place at the temple. In fact, they didn’t even need a priest; it could be done by the boy’s father.

ST. JOSEPH VS THE MOHEL

In the Gospel of St. Luke we are not told who circumcised Jesus, whether it was Joseph or if he set out to find a rabbi to perform the ceremony. Originally the task was given over to the father, but it later became customary to hand responsibility to a Mohel. A Mohel is specially trained in circumcision and is able to perform the accompanying rituals. Most of these are rabbis or even doctors who have medical and religious schooling. According to the visions of Venerable Maria de Agreda and Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich, St. Joseph did not circumcise Jesus, but rather the priest or rabbi did.

In the earliest and most popular depictions of the circumcision of Christ, it is always being performed by what looks to be a priest or rabbi, with St. Joseph and Our Lady standing by. St. Joseph would have the honour of bestowing upon his son the name given by the angel of the Lord:

“Thou shalt call his name Jesus...” - St. Matthew 1:21

THREE OFFERINGS

At first this ceremony would be sorrowful for Joseph as it involved the shedding of his son’s blood, which would cause pain to the child as well as to the hearts of his parents. At this ceremony, St. Joseph’s heart would offer three hidden sacrifices to the Heavenly Father on behalf of his son.

The first sacrifice would be the Infant Jesus, though entirely sinless and perfect, assuming the degradation of a sinner. He did this by submitting himself to the rite of circumcision which was instituted as a form of remedy, to make peace with the sinner and the Lord. St. Joseph did not have to submit his son to this, since Jesus himself had no original sin in him, but out of humility he abided by the Law.  Joseph offered up the humility of the Divine Child.

God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. - 2 Corinthians 5:21

The second offering of St. Joseph was the willingness to allow Christ to suffer the pain of the circumcision. This first cut into the tender flesh of Jesus would be for him his first physical suffering at the hands of another, but with St. Joseph there to comfort him. Years later at his Passion, Jesus would not be granted consolation for his pain until he breathed his last. He would be helpless and without comfort.

Scorn has broken my heart and has left me helpless; I looked for sympathy, but there was none, for comforters, but I found none. - Psalm 69:20

The third sacrifice at this event would be the shedding of blood, fully displaying the human side of Our Lord. St. Joseph would make the first offering of the Most Precious Blood in reparation for the many offences committed against Our Lord.

This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. - St. Matthew 26:28

After this sorrowful course, the heart of Joseph would now be infused with joy as he had just fulfilled his first official act as father in Jewish society. Since the beginning of time Joseph was chosen, just as Mary was, to play an important role in the history of mankind. Joseph was the first man to utter the name of our Saviour, his lips having the honour of pronouncing the Most Holy Name of Jesus! How the heavens must have rejoiced at this moment as the name of Salvation was spoken!

And when eight days were fulfilled for His circumcision, His name was called Jesus, the name given Him by the angel before He was conceived in the womb. - St. Luke 2:21

HUMAN AND DIVINE

Though the circumcision of Jesus was only briefly mentioned in the Bible, it is very important to take notice of this event, not only reminding us of God’s presence with his people, but also to prove the reality of his taking on our human nature. In the year 70 A.D. the Docetist heresy was running rampant, denouncing the human nature of Christ, claiming that his body was an illusion and not real flesh and blood, therefore not physically dying for our sins. This belief has always been the anti-thesis of Christianity, being condemned as heresy by the Council of Jerusalem.

Jesus is God–made–man, being human while retaining his divinity, as his body was formed for nine months in the womb of the Blessed Mother.  If baby Jesus did not take on human flesh, then how could St. Joseph have taken him to be circumcised? The Mohel himself cut the skin of the Divine Infant, and if his flesh was just an illusion, how could the circumcision have gone through? If we deny the human aspect of Jesus, then we are also denying that he was able to suffer and die for the salvation of mankind - the Passion of Our Lord would have meant absolutely nothing - it would have no merit.

THEOLOGY BEHIND “PEACE” 

In most Russian icons, Jesus is depicted as holding up his right hand and giving us the “peace sign”. He holds up his index and middle finger side by side and folds in his thumb and remaining fingers. In these images, Jesus appears to be blessing the viewer, but there is also a deeper meaning to the arrangement of his fingers. For the longest time, I didn’t know what it was, but one day a priest explained to me the true meaning.

The three folded fingers (pinkie, ring and thumb) represent the Holy Trinity: The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit. The three fingers coming together and touching as one represent the total unity of the Holy Trinity, as One God in Three Persons. Jesus is the Second Person of the Holy Trinity (The Son).

 

The two fingers set apart in the appearance of blessing, or giving the sign of peace, represent the two natures of Christ, that he is fully Man and fully God. This is also where the Blessed Virgin Mary gets her holy title Mother of God - Theotokos (Greek: God-Bearer), since Jesus is God. 

The circumcision proves to us that God literally took on human flesh. Joseph, in submitting Jesus to this rite, has shown us at an early stage in the life of Christ that Jesus is indeed God-made-man.

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us. And we saw His glory – glory as of the only-begotten of the Father full of grace and of truth. - St. John 1:14

Pope St. John Paul II, Redemptoris Custos: At the circumcision Joseph names the child "Jesus." This is the only name in which there is salvation (Acts 4:12). Its significance had been revealed to Joseph at the moment of his "annunciation": "You shall call the child Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins" (Matthew 1:21). In conferring the name, Joseph declares his own legal fatherhood over Jesus, and in speaking the name he proclaims the child's mission as Savior.