The land rests — second circumcision

Under Moses it was not said what is said under Jesus: The land rested from wars. Only by the Lord Jesus’ power can our land — where we struggle — cease from battles. Within us are Canaanites and Perizzites; therefore meditate on the Lord’s law day and night. Many of you sleep not only by night but all day in worldly business or fleshly delights, and scarcely come to church on feast days — some who come attend to stories, not God’s word. Awake, sleeper, and rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you. You have fasted? It is as if you left Egypt and followed Moses; but now Jesus has taken you from Moses and circumcises you a second time at the hill of foreskins — not only casting off idol-worship but also greed, a subtler idolatry. Today I have rolled away from you the reproach of Egypt. If you receive this second circumcision of the vices, Egypt’s reproaches are wiped away and you inherit the heavenly kingdom through the true Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom be glory forever. Amen.