"The Circumcision" by Federico Fiori Barocci
After eight days had passed, it was time to circumcise the child; and he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the law of the Lord, ‘Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the Lord’), and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, ‘a pair of turtle-doves or two young pigeons.’
Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. It had been
revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. Guided by the Spirit, Simeon* came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the law, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying,
‘Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace,
according to your word;
for my eyes have seen your salvation,
which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
a light for revelation to the Gentiles
and for glory to your people Israel.’
And the child’s father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, ‘This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed—and a sword will pierce your own soul too.’
Luke 2:21-35
How thoughtful, Mimi. We can all trot over from Jonathan's and continue discussing the topic of circumcision coolly and rationally over here. So thoughtful. Happy New Year.
ReplyDeleteLapin, Happy New Year.
ReplyDeleteI sort of hope that everyone will leave off beating that poor dead horse.
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ReplyDeleteSince we celebrate the Eucharist for the Savior's bris on this day, shouldn't we call it "Brismas"? And "We wish you a Merry Brismas" has such as nice sound to it.
ReplyDeleteMerry Brismas! We celebrate the Holy name among the Lutherans.
ReplyDeleteHave a Happy New Year, Mimi and GP!
John, excellent idea.
ReplyDeleteHappy Brismas all!
Happy New Year all!
"Brismas." It do have a ring to it.
ReplyDeleteToday is also "feast of the black eyed peas" for those of us who observe the tradition!
Eating black eyed peas on New Year's has been the one and only tradition that I have been unfailingly faithful to since childhood.
ReplyDeleteAs I said in the comments to another post, my family didn't do the black-eyed peas and corn bread tradition, and Grandpère's didn't either, so we don't do it. Maybe that's why we have bad luck.
ReplyDeleteBrismas is the Ashkenazic/Modern Orthodox pronounciation. If you want to go the Israeli/Sefardic route, it's Britmas. Which also allows you to wish Jesus a Happy Britday.
ReplyDeleteMimi, your Barocci is a must better picture than the rather pompous Lippi I posted at my blog.
But I have to express my displeasure that the Episcopal Church has backed off calling this the "Feast of the Circumcision", as if they're afraid to admit that part of the rules of the Incarnation is that Jesus had all the normal body parts. Or maybe they're afraid of offending Pope Benedict and the natural law theologians, by reminding people of that fact that although Jesus had one, he didn't use it in the way that the natural law school says it should be used.
Kishnevi, I grew up in the RCC, and the day was called the Feast of the Circumcision until I can't think when. I remember going to church on that day as a child to celebrate a feast that I didn't even know the meaning of. No one explained it to me, either. Everyone seems to have got squeamish somewhere along the way and changed the name.
ReplyDeleteThank goodness for the Web Gallery of Art. I found a painting that I liked at the British Museum, but the online picture is under copyright, and one must pay to reproduce it. That's not right.
I still haven't made up my mind if the black eyed peas attract the good luck, or ward off the bad.
ReplyDeleteEither way, it would work. We already have our first taste of bad luck with my granddaughter's broken arm. I suppose we should take up the custom.
ReplyDelete