FRIDAY, January 1 The Holy Name of Our Lord Jesus Christ

Isaiah 62:1-5, 10-12.* You shall be called by a new name that the mouth of the LORD will give.

I love the Feast of the Holy Name. Not only does it celebrate the name of Jesus, but it is the day each year when I specifically commit anew to the new name I have taken, the one I pray has been given to me by the mouth of the Lord Jesus: Peacemaker.

I love the name I was given by my parents at my birth--it is who I am. But it does not convey who I am called to be. Peacemaker does, for I live in a land torn apart by war and hatred, where death stalks the people daily and peace is elusive, almost an illusion. To proclaim peace to those who are far off and those who are near, to be completely dedicated to God's peace--that is what I seek.

I haven't gotten there yet, but this soul name keeps me focused on what God wants me to do and be. It is what I pray for, especially so, on the Feast of the Holy Name, for in doing so, I feel the Lord's delight and I pray for the Lord to rejoice over me.

* The author writes on the First Lesson appointed by the Daily Office for this feast.

PRAY for the Diocese of Aba (Province of the Niger Delta, Nigeria)

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

View the daily Lectionary Readings at Satucket.com.
Or view the Bible passages at Biblegateway.com.

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Jan 01, 2010 at 7:27 am

Written by Brother Doc,

Pardon if I am unacquainted with the resources of this site, but is there somewhere we can see who the author(s) of the meditations are? Today's is written by someone who says (s)he lives in a land of strife and hatred. I would be pleased to offer a prayer for this person's peace, both inward and outward, but would feel better informed if I knew who the person is. Peace to all the readers of the meditations on this worthy site and may 2010 bring peace in our troubled world--work for it!

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Jan 01, 2010 at 7:33 am

Written by gail,

Brother Doc, click on "editor's notes" under the heading Resources on the left side of the page.

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Jan 01, 2010 at 7:56 am

Written by Robert Lebby,

Brother Doc, the author's name is not listed on the website, but she was, at the time, in The Sudan. I know this only because it was given by the Editor, Rev Schmidt (December 29 or 30, I believe). You can look back in the archives to read what he wrote.

As for this troubled world, I agree that Peace is what we need, but I don't believe that "true" peace will come until the day Jesus returns. That doesn't mean that we are doomed to this world of so much suffering. Despite all of the strife, God is still in control, Jesus is the Ultimate Peacemaker, and I thank the Lord for people like the author who served in places like Sudan (and am in awe of someone with that kind of faith). I know, however, that the "prayer of a righteous man availeth much." That is the work we have before us as we enter this new decade. May it be blessed by the Lord and those who work for peace and the love of Jesus Christ.

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Jan 01, 2010 at 8:04 am

Written by Marshal (San Francisco),

My entire life, some 70 years, I have prayed for peace. I have experienced brief, all too brief, periods when I though most of the world was at peace. I haven't given up, I still pray for "the leaders of all nations and the peoples of all nations, that there may peace in all the world, as it is in heaven." May it be so.

I find inner peace each morning after reading from this publication.

May there be peace on earth and goodwill to all.

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Jan 01, 2010 at 8:50 am

Written by Andrea,

I have used the Editor's Notes link before to find out more about the authors, but today it seems to be broken. I get a "404: Not Found" error message. Will it be back?

Holy Name of Jesus

Jan 01, 2010 at 10:38 am

Written by Frederick Wright,

I am delight to join in with an AMEN for our Lord Jesus to Rejoice Over of the writer in a most wonderful Spirit of His Love. I don't say amen to all prayer I hear, how ever this prayer of Rejoicing over a person is most wondedful to have our Lord rejoice with his people. I would like to join in with an Sounding AMEN in the writers prayer to Jesus. I too ask in my prayer to bring joy and rejoicing in unity with Jesus as His servant

Editor's Notes Link

Jan 01, 2010 at 3:49 pm

Written by Brad Turner - Webmaster,

In case you're having trouble accessing it, the link for the Editor's Notes page is http://forwardmovement.org/Editor’s-Notes/. This link may be broken if you're accessing it from a Forward Day by Day email. I will check on this and make sure everything is correct. Thanks for your comments today and I hope all are having a blessed New Year!

Missionary

Jan 01, 2010 at 7:20 pm

Written by Lauren Stanley,

Thank you for all your comments. At the time I wrote these meditations, I was indeed a missionary in Sudan, which was then, and continues to be, a war-torn country with far too much hatred and nowhere near enough love. Your prayers for Sudan are greatly needed and greatly appreciated. Not only do we pray for peace, but I hope and pray that we are actively working for peace. Blessings in this new year ...

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