Monday, Jan. 1: Mat. 2:13–18 (Circumcision and Name of Jesus)
Hidden within this tragic passage is the promise of the resurrection from the dead. The Lord Jesus, even though a child according to His human nature, was also almighty according to His divine nature. He could have saved those children from Herod. Why didn’t He? Because He did not come to save men from earthly suffering, but to save men from sin. Suffering and persecution last only a short time, but sin kills forever.
When our Lord was circumcised, He was the Savior of all the circumcised—including those murdered boys of Bethlehem. Because He lives, they live in Him. And, because He rose from the dead, they will rise from the dead also. Circumcision was for the Old Testament; God’s people today are united to Christ in Baptism, but the same promise applies. When the Christ was baptized, He was the Savior of all the baptized. Because He lives, the baptized live. Because He rose from the dead, the baptized will rise from the dead. Our lives on earth are short and insignificant compared with the glory of the resurrection.
Collect: O merciful and eternal God, heavenly Father, who didst cause Thy Son to endure circumcision and to be made subject to the Law, that we might be redeemed from the curse of the Law: We beseech Thee, grant us grace to become partakers of this redemption and thus obtain eternal salvation, through the same, Thy beloved Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end. Amen.