Genesis — Chapter 17

I AM THE ALMIGHTY GOD: WALK BEFORE ME, AND BE PERFECT. — God reveals Himself to Abraham as \"El Shaddai\" (God Almighty, All-sufficient). Two commands: (1) \"Walk before Me\" = live in My constant presence, directing all actions as in the sight of God; (2) \"Be perfect\" = wholly sincere, integral, without duplicity. Lapide gives eight rules for achieving this perfection (cited by Cornelius following Bernard): know thyself as sinner and debtor; fix your heart on God; mortify the principal vice; root out self-love of esteem; separate yourself from earthly alliances; free yourself from excessive cares; fix your aim on God; resign yourself entirely to God. This \"walking before God\" is the highest aspiration of the interior life.

NEITHER SHALL THY NAME BE CALLED ABRAM: BUT THOU SHALT BE CALLED ABRAHAM, BECAUSE I HAVE MADE THEE A FATHER OF MANY NATIONS. — Abraham = \"father of a great multitude\" (father of many nations). The change of name signifies a change of state and mission — from patriarch of one family to father of all nations, both carnal (Israel) and spiritual (all believers). Note also: to the name of Abraham the letters \"he\" from the divine Name (YHWH) are added — signifying that the Messiah, who is God, would be born from him. Sarah's name is similarly changed from Sarai.

THIS IS MY COVENANT WHICH YOU SHALL OBSERVE, BETWEEN ME AND YOU, AND THY SEED AFTER THEE: ALL THE MALE KIND OF YOU SHALL BE CIRCUMCISED. — The covenant of circumcision: the sign of God's covenant with Abraham and his descendants. Seven reasons for circumcision (Lapide after Aquinas, I-II, Q. 102, a. 5): (1) to profess faith in the one God, Creator; (2) to confess faith in the coming Messiah from Abraham's seed; (3) to distinguish the chosen people from idolaters; (4) as a remedy for original sin in infants; (5) to exercise obedience in faith; (6) to curb lust (the most powerful passion), by sanctifying the member most subject to it; (7) to prefigure Baptism, of which circumcision was the figure (Col. 2:11-12). The eighth day signifies the Resurrection (Augustine).