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

Luke 2:15-21. 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.

Today we remember Jesus’ circumcision and naming. Just a week after Christ’s birth, why set aside a day to celebrate his name?

In the Bible, a name is connected to the identity of a person. Jesus means “God saves.” Sarah laughed when she was told she would have a child, and so she named him Isaac, which means “he laughs.” Esau’s twin brother pulled at his heel as he was born and so he was named Jacob, which means “supplanter.”

Names in the Bible also change as individuals are given a new identity by God: Abram became Abraham, Sarai became Sarah, Simon became Peter, Saul became Paul. As they explore questions of identity, teenagers sometimes change their names, often discarding a nickname in favor of the name given at birth.

Most of us are stuck with the names we have. But our identity in Christ keeps changing and growing. What might God be calling you to be in this new year? What might be your new name?

PRAY for the International Anglican Family Network (IAFN)

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

View the daily Lectionary Readings at http://satucket.com/lectionary/

Or view the Bible passages at Biblegateway.com or Oremus Bible browser.

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