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Holy Name

Luke 2:15–21

Notes on This Reading

Our culture celebrates the New Year on January 1. On that same date, the church celebrates the Feast of the Holy Name, remembering the story in Luke’s gospel of how Joseph and Mary brought the infant Jesus to the temple for presentation, in keeping with the Jewish tradition. In that liturgy, he receives his name, a holy name. The name “Jesus,” a variant of the name “Joshua,” really means “God saves.” It’s a great name for this baby. One of the strong themes of the gospels (all four of them) is the way in which Jesus comes to fulfill the tradition into which he was born and not to do away with it. And in the fulfilling of that tradition, he brings God’s saving power to a world that really needs it.

Questions

1 What is so important about a naming ceremony? How did you get your name?

2 Reflect on the traditions that were observed when you came into the world. What do you know about them? How have they affected the rest of your life?

3 What is important about the name Jesus? In what ways does the story of Jesus live into his name? Can you identify any way in which you have been saved? Any way in which you are being saved now?