The Holy Name

What's in a name?

My name represents, as many people's do, the union of two families through marriage and the birth of a child. I am named Rodger after my maternal grandfather and Lindsay after my father and my paternal grandfather.

Two of the men I am named for were priests in the Episcopal Church, so I am definitely part of the family business. I think about them often as I build my own life of work and ministry.

Today we celebrate the Holy Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, whose naming represents a union of a much higher order -- the joining of God and his beloved people in the Word made flesh. Matthew's gospel story tells us that Joseph heard in a dream that he should name the child Jesus, "for he will save his people from their sins" (Matt. 1:21). Matthew also notes that this was to fulfill a prophecy from Isaiah that the child would be named "Emmanuel," which means, "God is with us" (Matt 1:23).

Saving us from our sins and demonstrating in his body God's presence with us -- this is truly Jesus' family business. But it is also our business. Jesus is asked at one point about his family, and he replies, "Who is my mother, and who are my brothers? ... Whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother" (Matt. 12:48-50).

We are meant to claim Jesus' Holy Name as our own, to embrace his identity as a child of God, and to take up the family business of "restoring all people to unity with God and each other in Christ" (BCP 855).

May we each enjoy success in our own work and in the "family business" in this Year of our Lord 2010.

Happy New Year!