The holy name

The Holy Name - January 1

The Feast of the Holy Name falls today, the 1st of January, eight days after Christmas, and it commemorates the circumcision of the child Jesus, as recounted in Luke's Gospel, 2:21, "After eight days had passed, it was time to circumcise the child; and he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb."

While we don't know much about the early years of Jesus, between his birth and when he begins his ministry nearly 30 years later, it is helpful to reflect upon Jesus' upbringing as a Jewish boy in an occupied land, learning and observing the traditions of his parents.  So, on this 8th day of Christmas, continue to celebrate the birth of God in human form, in the specific human form of a child, and the radical implications of this reality.

~The Rev. Peter M. Carey

Eternal Father, you gave to your incarnate Son the holy name of Jesus to be the sign of our salvation: Plant in every heart, we pray, the love of him who is the Savior of the world, our Lord Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.

Numbers 6:22-27 
Galatians 4:4-7 
or Philippians 2:5-11
Luke 2:15-21 
Psalm 8

Numbers 6:22-27

The LORD spoke to Moses, saying: Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, Thus you shall bless the Israelites: You shall say to them,

The LORD bless you and keep you;

the LORD make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you;

the LORD lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace.

So they shall put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.

Luke 2:15-21

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us." So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. After eight days had passed, it was time to circumcise the child; and he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.