Homily on the 32nd Sunday after Pentecost.
On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived. Lk 2:21
In todays gospel reading we have for us the recount of the circumcision of our Lord and Saviour.
One may wonder, why would the Christ child need circumcision if He is God? Was not the purpose of the act of cutting flesh and offering it unto God a covenant with His people ( a prefiguration of our baptism) in order to remain in communion with their God?
As we hear within Holy scripture many times, although God is creator of all things visible and invisible, He has always shown how to humble ones self. Therefore, the act of circumcision was an act of humility and an act of love for His people. The cutting and offering of flesh also being a prefiguration of giving Himself up in flesh on the wood of the cross!
Moreover, in subscribing to the law, we come to know that Jesus is the fulfilment of the law that He Himself spoke onto Abraham in Genesis 17:1-27. We know this to be Jesus for the Evangelist John writes in the very first chapter of his Gospel - In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us. John 1:1, 1:14.
In my line of work, waste collectors or Garbo's as we call them in our native tongue are sometimes looked down upon. In the three years that I have worked as a Garbo I have been spoken down to, sworn at, and even threatened.
However, from time to time I have come across the most beautiful souls that would offer me a kind word or something to eat or drink.
Last week I was going about my work, when I made a bit of a mess with one of the rubbish bins. The entire content within the bin fell all over the road, so I proceeded to exit the truck and clean the mess that I had made.
While I was cleaning, an elderly man came out with gardening gloves and a shovel and said "Let me help you! You'll get it done faster with an extra set of hand's!" I replied - "thank you but you don't have to clean up my mess I'm happy to do it". However, the man insisted and proceeded to helped me to clean the road up.
I was so grateful to him because he treated me like a person rather than a second or third class citizen that deals with trash. After we had cleaned up the mess, I spent a good 10 minutes on the side of the road talking with this man. It was truly a pleasure to listen to him - giving me slight glimpses into his past. It sounds like he was a hard worker and has never been afraid to get his hands dirty.
In comparison, last year I spilt a bin full of grass. I cleaned up the mess to the best of my ability however, the resident call up my employer; complaining that I had left a mess on the road in front of her house. According to my employer this lady was furious to the point she advised my employer to terminate my employment saying that I was incapable of preforming my duties in a correct and safe manner.
Now hypothetically speaking, if my employer had taken the advice of the lady in terminating my employment, that lady would have placed my family and myself in financial hardship, as I am the soul income earner of the household. The lady out of her frustration could have seen me unable to pay the mortgage, bills and possibly struggle to put food on the table for my wife and three children.
Therefore, the moral of what I'm trying to say here is that, if that lady had lay aside her frustration in showing some humility as the old man had shown, I hypothetically speaking would have not lost my job resulting in all the hardships listed above.
Hence, let us take up the Lord on His advise when He exhorts in the Gospel of Matthew - "Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Mt 11:28-30
Thus, on this Holy feast of the Circumcision of our Lord, let us ask our Saviour that He impart the gift of humility upon us. Humility towards the All-Holy-Trinity, humility towards our families, humility towards our employers and work colleagues and humility in all we do in this life and the next!
I'll conclude with the words our Saviour spoken onto the Apostles in the Gospel of Matthew - If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. Mt 16:24-25
Through the Prayers of the Holy Theotokos, Lord Jesus Christ our God have mercy on us and save us. Amen
Troparion
Enthroned on high with the Eternal Father and Your divine Spirit, / O Jesus, You willed to be born on earth of the unwedded handmaid, your Mother. / Therefore You were circumcised as an eight-day old Child. / Glory to Your most gracious counsel; / glory to Your dispensation; / glory to Your condescension, O only Lover of mankind.
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