During this Advent Season I have been reflecting upon how Joseph and Mary were instructed to name their child through the word of God spoken by the Angel(s) of the Lord to each of them. I have yet again been impressed by the meaning and significance of those names so given to the One whose birth we remember and celebrate at Christmas and whose coming we anticipate and hope for in the present and future.
Every parent struggles to decide what to name their children. Some do quite well. Others not so much. Usually they have meaning and significance not only to parents as well as extended family and friends, but of course to the child who is born. Joseph and Mary appear to have had no struggle to name their child. It is quite interesting to look at the whole of Scripture and see how significant it is when God names someone by name...
Joseph (Matthew 1:18-25) is told by an Angel of the Lord that the son to be born to Mary was to be named Jesus/Joshua/Yeshua because he will save people from their sins. Of course this name was emblazened in every Jewish parent's mind as they recalled the great Joshua, the successor to Moses, who led the people of Israel into the Promised Land. It was probably one of the most popular names that Jewish parents gave to their children in those days. Joshua was central to God's saving act of setting His People free from slavery in Egypt and leading them into the Great Promise. But the Angel of the Lord also recalls the words of Isaiah 7:14 and says that the people will call him by another name "Immanuel" which means "God with us."
Likewise, Mary (Luke 1:26-38) is told by The Angel Gabriel that the son she will give birth to shall be named Jesus/Joshua/Yeshua. Yet additionally, Mary is told that this One shall be called The Son of the Most High, The Son of God, revealing that this child has a Heavenly Father (The 1st Person of the Trinity), as well as an earthly Father (Joseph), by virtue of the mystery of the Holy Spirit in the great paradox of the Incarnation-of God becoming human and making his dwelling among us (John 1:14,18).
All of this was to fulfill The Promise to Israel and the Whole World that God would send the Messiah-the Christ and Savior. So in this season, we celebrate and anticipate the One who saves, the One who is always with us, and the One who is none other than the very Son of the Most High-The Son of God. It is worth taking the time to reflect upon this One whose name means "God Saves" and save He would. That is why when we gaze into the manger we must also do so in the shadow of the cross. It is also worth taking the time to reflect upon how God is with us even now, no matter what our circumstances, to hear Him again say "I will never leave you nor forsake you!" That God is always as close to us as our next breath. And finally it is worth reminding ourselves that what we celebrate is a profound mystery and paradox...God becoming Human. As St Athanasius of the 4th century said it "God became human so we could become as God." Ponder anew this season the Gifts of God's Salvation in Jesus Christ, God's Presence with us as Immanuel and the mystery of the 2nd Person of the Triune God becoming Human. Take time to ponder as even Luke's Gospel shares about Mary in those profound words "And Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart". May we follow Mother Mary and do the same during this Advent-Christmas Season.
Have a very blessed Advent-Christmas Season.
May I also recommend Keith and Kristyn Getty's Christmas CD/ITunes JOY: An Irish Christmas. Great for personal and family listening or as a gift!
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