January 1, 2004
Numbers 6:22-27 + Galatians 4:4-7 + Luke 2: 16-21
It’s all about names today. The ancient writer from the Torah
in the last verse of today’s reading shows the importance of God’s name when with great eloquence bestows the blessing upon Israel. Having God’s name on them means that Israel receives God’s blessing.
Then again in the Letter to the Galatians, the whole idea of adoption implies the sharing of the parental name. By virtue of the Spirit’s indwelling in the believer’s heart, the Christian is marked by God’s name.
That name spoken now in the Gospel of Luke is the Good News. Just as the divine name was revealed to Moses, we have it revealed to us. Speaking that name, God’s face was uncovered, and the Lord entered a covenant with the people of Israel and gave them the law. With that name, and by its power, they were on their way to Canaan. with that name, they blessed themselves with its power.
The good name remains for us the gift by which God is lovingly identified to us and offers us salvation. In it we find peace. In it we are made children and heirs of God. It is God’s great and last word of salvation. At that circumcision, the covenant it symbolized was complete. What was begun with Abraham is finally consummated. Given the name “Jesus” which means, “God Saves” the abundance and fullness of God’s gracious love is declared by all who speak that name.
“Jesus” is the song of angels, the treasure of Mary, the wonder of shepherds. For us he is delight and joy. Our failures, our broken ornaments, the discarded wrappings of Christmas gifts matter not in the face of the divine presence. As I said last week to you all: God has broken the silence.
The final word has been spoken. He is our blessing and our redemption. We begin this new year of grace and faith by speaking that name in prayer, in thanksgiving, in praise, and in hope. We gather at this table for the first celebration in the fourth year of the third millennium. We treasure in our hearts
this great and gracious redemption we have, for God saves now, today and all through this new year and ever year for ever and ever, Amen.