Friday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time
(Genesis 17:1-9.15-22; Matthew 8:1-4)
Today’s reading from Genesis focused on the covenant between
God and Abraham and features the physical sign of circumcision. Abraham and all men of the covenant are to be
circumcised as a sign of their fidelity to the Lord. The sign reminds one to believe and to follow
the ways of God indicated in God’s law.
Since the sign was not apparent to others, in time its
meaning was emphasized over its physical nature. Moses will tell the Israelites to circumcise
the foreskin of their hearts. They are not
to be proud and selfish but humble and compassionate. St. Paul also dismisses the necessity of physical
circumcision for salvation in favor of a circumcised heart.
We Catholics often demonstrate our faith with rosaries,
making the sign of the cross, and other physical signs. They remind us as well as others of our
promise to follow Christ. We must keep
in mind that should they become hollow of meaning, they doubly condemn us. Should we cease to follow Christ, they
convict us of hypocrisy as well as loss of faith.
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