Thursday of the Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time
(Philippians 3:3-8a; Luke 15:1-10)
Today’s first reading is meant to shock its listeners. St.
Paul calls the Christian community “the circumcision.” He means that collectively Christians give
witness to being the new “Chosen People” of God as circumcision marked the
people of the Mosaic Covenant, Paul sees
this coming about when Christians manifest the Holy Spirit in daily life. Their joy, peace, and love show the world that
they belong to God.
A look at the context of Paul’s saying aids
understanding. Paul has just exhorted
the Philippians to “beware of the dogs” preaching the necessity of
circumcision. These preachers were
probably Jewish-Christians who insisted on the physical sign that marks Jewish
men from non-Jewish neighbors.
There are Christians who insist on physical signs. They promote scapulars, medals, even
rosaries. It is not wrong to use these
signs. As Paul mentions possible gains
from his being raised a Jew, so we might attribute blessings from use of what
are termed “sacramentals.” However, spiritual signs of the Spirit’s presence
give truer testimony and merit greater reward.
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