(Numbers 6:22-27;
Philippians 2:5-11; Luke 2:15-21)
On the eighth of
Christmas, God’s true Love gave to me…
…an answer to the question: What’s in a name?
The Holy Name, formerly known as the Circumcision of Christ,
recognizes several things. First is the Jewishness of Jesus. All male Jewish
babies are circumcised on the 8th day. Second is the humanity of
Jesus: the Word made human flesh
allows this rite to take place. Third is the fact that this infant Son of God
is given a human name: Jesus, Yeshua, Joshua. Granted, it means “the one who
saves”, but it is nevertheless a human name, given to other Jewish baby boys
before the birth of this Jesus the Christ. How often do people change their birth
names to reflect a new reality in their lives? Jesus’ reality was clear from
the beginning, in the angel’s instructions to Joseph: “…you are to name him
Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21). The
reading from Numbers reminds us that God has put his Name on his people, Israel;
Paul, writing to the Christians in Philippi, tells us that since Jesus did not
take advantage of his divine status, God “gave him the name that is above every
name” – Jesus!
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