Jacob purgeth his family from idols: goeth by God’s commandment to Bethel, and there buildeth an altar. God appearing again to Jacob blesseth him, and changeth his name into Israel. Rachel dieth in childbirth. Isaac also dieth.
“And Jacob having called together all his household, said: Cast away the strange gods that are among you, and be cleansed and change your garments.” (Genesis 35:2)
Throughout our lives, we must be mindful of our baptismal promises to reject Satan and all of his pomps and allurements.
“After he was called by God, Jacob ascends to Bethel, that is, to the house of God (this is how the name Bethel is interpreted), offers sacrifices to God and is declared chief and master of the holy rites. He teaches his successors and descendants how they must enter the house of God. He orders the foreign gods to be rejected like dung and filth and to change the garments. It is fitting for us to do likewise when we are called before God, or enter the divine temple, especially in the time of the holy baptism. We, as if we drive away the foreign gods and part from such error, must assert, ‘I refuse you, Satan, and all your pomp and all your worship.’ We also must change completely our garment by stripping off ‘the old self that is corrupt through deceitful lusts’ and by clothing ourselves with ‘the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of its Creator.’ The women who were with Jacob took off their earrings. And in fact women by entering the house of God without wearing any carnal ornament and with loose hair remove from their head any accusation of pride. That is why, I believe, those women took off the precious stones they wore in their ears.” -St. Cyril of Alexandria
Discussion: How can we be careful to put off the “old self” and put on the “new self?”
“But he set up a monument of stone, in the place where God had spoken to him: pouring drink offerings upon it, and pouring oil thereon.” (Genesis 35:14)
When we are ascending in our sanctification towards God, we will grow in greater knowledge of Christ.
“When we ascend to Bethel, that is, to the house of God, we will know the stone, I mean, the elected stone, which was made into a cornerstone, that is, Christ. We will see the one who is anointed by the Father in joy and exultation for all the creatures that live under the sky. As I said, the Son is anointed by God the Father: ‘Joy of us all, universal exultation’ according to the words of the psalmist. And you see how this is prefigured in the words that were just said to us: ‘And Jacob set up a stone and poured oil upon it.’ That action is a symbol of the mystery of Christ, through whom and with whom be glory to God the Father and the Holy Spirit, world without end. Amen.” -St. Cyril of Alexandria
Women's Prayer Group In Christ 