SCRIPTURE COMMENTARY #33
And after eight days were accomplished, that the child should be circumcised, his name was called JESUS, which was called by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. (Luke 2:21)
WHY JESUS SUBJECTED HIMSELF TO CIRCUMCISION: Our Lord was without sin, so He stood in no need of circumcision. But He submitted to the rite for the following reasons:
1. According to the prophecies the Redeemer was to be a true Israelite and son of Abraham. To be such, and to be recognized as such, circumcision was necessary.
2. By His Incarnation our Lord took upon Himself the sins of mankind, so as to make satisfaction for them. For this purpose He shed His Precious Blood for the first time in His circumcision, and showed us thereby that He was come to redeem us by His Blood. Therefore the name of Jesus, or Savior, was given to Him at His circumcision.
3. By voluntarily obeying the law and submitting Himself to the rite of circumcision, He wished to give us an example of obedience to the divine law.
[From 'A Practical Commentary on Holy Scripture' by Bishop Knecht, D.D.]
(1899 Douay-Rheims Bible)
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