“Rite If Passage Into Newness!”

“Rite Of Passage Into Newness!”(Col. 2:11-12).
Back in the days in Bali Nyonga circumcision was an initiation rite into manhood. It was a rite of passage into becoming an adult. Before the young men were gathered together to go for the rite, some were already betrothed. The period of healing after the circumcision took about three months. These initiates were isolated from their families for that period of time. They returned to their homes only after all of them had healed from their wounds. Sad to note that some died in the process – especially considering the crude unsterilized knives that were used for the circumcision.
We can begin to visualize the pain an oldman like Abraham had to endure as a mark of sealing the covenant with God.
Circumcision may be a mere cutting off of the foreskin of the penis, but it is a painful experience, leading to a kind of newness. This is so because it was a transition into a new phase of life – adulthood.
It is in the same way that baptism into Christ is a transition path from the old to the new. It is a circumcision of the heart, removing the taint of sin and leading us to a new life of righteousness in union with God in Christ.
Thus this day scripture reminds us that in Christ we “were also circumcised in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.”
So now we are dead to sin but by faith in the power of God we are alive through the resurrection of Christ our Lord.
Prayer of the day and week: Holy Spirit, now that our sinful nature has been buried with Christ in his death, and have been raised to new life with him, help us to remain that way. Amen!
Welcome back to a new day and week! Have a blessed day and week! Peace be with you!
Rev Babila Fochang.