Among the Hebrew people, circumcision, or the cutting off of the foreskin of the male sexual organ, is a religious ceremony which marks the person with the seal of the covenant.

At the time of Jesus, it was performed on the eighth day after birth. Luke tells us about the circumcision of, and the giving of name to, both John and Jesus. Along with the Sabbath observance, circumcision was one of their most distinctive rites.

When Antiochus IV Epiphanes forbade circumcision and his agents put to death Jewish mothers who would circumcise their children, the women chose to die rather than give up circumcision (1 Mc 1:60-63). The rite became most important as a sign of fidelity. Most of the early believers in Christ were Jews. But when Christianity spread among the Gentiles, the decision was reached that circumcision was not obligatory.

Salvation is achieved through faith in Jesus Christ who suffered, died, and rose again. Faith which works through love—not circumcision—makes a person a “new creation” (Gal 6:15). Baptism marks the entry of a child to the Christian community, as circumcision does to the Jews. It has many similarities to the Jewish rites: the baptized is given a name; and family, relatives, and friends gather for the happy occasion.

Pope Francis says that it is important to remember the exact day of our baptism: “It is the day on which we were saved, it is the day on which we became children of God. Now, those who do not know it should ask their godparents, their dad, their mom, an uncle, an aunt: ‘When was I baptized’? And that day should be remembered each year: it is the day on which we became children of God” (General Audience, Sept. 8, 2021).

Thus says the Lord God: Lo, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me; and suddenly there will come to the temple the Lord whom you seek, and the messenger of the covenant whom you desire. Yes, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts. But who will endure the day of his coming?

And who can stand when he appears? For he is like the refiner’s fire, or like the fuller’s lye. He will sit refining and purifying silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi, refining them like gold or like silver that they may offer due sacrifice to the Lord.

Then the sacrifice of Judah and Jerusalem will please the Lord, as in the days of old, as in years gone by. Lo, I will send you Elijah, the prophet, Before the day of the Lord comes, the great and terrible day, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, Lest I come and strike the land with doom.

When the time arrived for Elizabeth to have her child she gave birth to a son. Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy toward her, and they rejoiced with her. When they came on the eighth day to circumcise the child, they were going to call him Zechariah after his father, but his mother said in reply, “No. He will be called John.”

But they answered her, “There is no one among your relatives who has this name.” So they made signs, asking his father what he wished him to be called. He asked for a tablet and wrote, “John is his name,” and all were amazed. Immediately his mouth was opened, his tongue freed, and he spoke blessing God.

Then fear came upon all their neighbors, and all these matters were discussed throughout the hill country of Judea. All who heard these things took them to heart, saying, “What, then, will this child be? For surely the hand of the Lord was with him.”