18 Dec 2015
The angel of the Lord entrusted Joseph with an important task:
naming the child “Jesus.” And he came
through, as we know.
Jesus the Son of God has lots of names. We heard one from Jeremiah today: “The Lord
our justice.” The psalm gives us another
one: “The God of Israel.” Even the
Alleluia verse gives us two names for him: “Leader of the House of Israel,” and
“Giver of the Law to Moses on Sinai.” And,
of course, the gospel gives us the name “Immanuel:” that is, “God with us.”
They’re all names for God, or Jesus the Son of God. Or you might have in mind that line from the
prophet Isaiah: “They name him Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero, Father-Forever,
Prince of Peace” [9:5b]. “Son of David”
is another one. Jesus has lots of names,
and they all reflect something of who and what he is to his people.
Jesus is “Immanuel” because he came in human flesh: he is “God
with us” [which is what “Immanuel” means].
We could also say he is “Immanuel” because of Pentecost, because of the
Holy Spirit, because of all the Sacraments and Scripture and Tradition—he is “God
with us;” Jesus is “Immanuel.”
The angel entrusted Joseph with the task of giving Jesus his
name. And this is something God has
inspired people to do for thousands of years.
We give Jesus not the name Jesus, but other names to describe who he is to us. Maybe he is “Friend.” Maybe his name is “He Who Upholds Me.” Or maybe Jesus is “The Merciful One."
Jesus is his name. But
like any close relationship, you may have another name you call him; a name
that reflects who he is to you. What
name do you give him?
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