Many people have asked me this question over the years, and I understand why it touches the heart. If Jesus is truly the Son of God, why would He submit to the ancient rituals of circumcision and temple presentation? These moments, so quiet and tender, help us see how deeply God chose to enter our human story—not from above, but from within.
First, Jesus was circumcised on the eighth day because He was born into a real people with a real covenant. Circumcision was the sign given to Abraham, marking belonging to God’s promise. By receiving it, Jesus did not abolish the Law but embraced it fully. As we hear later in the Gospel, He came not to erase God’s commandments but to fulfill them. In His very flesh, Jesus shows obedience, humility, and solidarity with the people He came to save. He begins His mission not with power, but with submission and love.
Then comes His presentation at the Temple, as told in the Gospel of Luke. Mary and Joseph bring their child to Jerusalem, offering the sacrifice of the poor—two simple birds. Here, we meet Simeon and Anna, elderly figures who had waited their whole lives for God’s promise. When Simeon takes the child into his arms, he recognizes what the world could not yet see: this small infant is the light for all nations and the glory of Israel. In this sacred encounter, Jesus is revealed as the Messiah, even while remaining hidden in weakness.
What this means for us is deeply personal. Jesus shows us that holiness is often lived quietly—in faithfulness, obedience, and trust. God works through ordinary acts, through families who say yes, through rituals that shape the heart over time. When we bring our own lives to God, even with our poverty and imperfections, He receives them with joy. Jesus’ early life reminds us that salvation begins not with great gestures, but with love lived faithfully, one step at a time.
Reflection – A Closing Thought
May we learn from the humility of Christ, who chose to walk our path from the very beginning. As we offer ourselves to God, may we trust that even our smallest acts of obedience can become places where His light is revealed.
— Fr. John Matthew, for Christian Way.
