Monday, January 1: The Holy Name of Our Lord Jesus Christ (No Public Services)
January 1 is New Year's Day on the civil calendar, but it's also a major feast on the church's calendar: the Holy Name of our Lord Jesus Christ. On this eighth day after Christmas, Jesus was circumcised and given his name.
We will not hold any services in church on this day, but you're invited to keep this feast in your own prayers. The scripture readings and collect can be found via the link below.
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The Holy Name of Our Lord Jesus Christ (readings and collect)
In accordance with the Torah, Jesus was circumcised on the eighth day from birth, and was given his name: Yeshua, or "God saves." In the gospel according to Matthew, an angel tells Joseph to give him this name, "for he shall save his people from their sins."
The name Yeshua is the same name borne by the ancient successor to Moses, usually called Joshua in English. So, Jesus and Joshua are the same name. Our common English spelling of Jesus derives from the Greek form, Iēsous, or in Greek characters, ΙΗSΟΥS.
St. Paul writes to the Philippians that, because Jesus humbled himself, "God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Philippians 2:9-11).
Image: IHS, the Greek abbreviation for the name of Jesus, with Latin inscription "Blessed be the Name of the Lord" (embroidery on a modern chasuble)
Tags: News & Notes / Worship Services
