On 1 January is the Feast of the Circumcision of Jesus. This is a day of obligation, and many Catholics are found in a church on that day. It is a good way to start a new year.

Why is this day important? It is eight days after Christmas, and under Jewish law, all male children had to be circumcised on the eighth day after their birth. Christ could have forgone it, but He wanted to show the world what it was to be subjected to the laws that He wrote.

The rule of law is important for everyone. Yet, many places have a rule for one set of people and another rule for another set. This is not fair to anyone. The rule must apply equally to everyone, or it means nothing to anyone.

Unfair rules show that a certain class of people can do anything while others will get punished for a lesser offense. This is not what Christ wanted to show us on this day.

Those who promote “rule of law” but ignore it for certain people need to remember that they, too, will be judged by God’s rule of law. A law that applies to everyone and no one will be treated any differently. This is what lawmakers often forget.

We hope that this year will see the reign of Holy Mother Church in China as well as the rest of the world.

Our Lady of China, pray for us.