Close your eyes, breathe, and clear your mind. Be still. Center your scattered senses on God’s presence.
SCRIPTURE: Luke 2:15-21
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.
CHRISTMASTIDE REFLECTION
According to Jewish tradition, a baby was circumcised eight days after his birth and was the occasion where the child was formally given his name. The circumcision of Jesus has traditionally been seen as the first time the blood of Christ was shed, and thus began the process of the redemption of man. It was also a demonstration that Christ was fully human and showed obedience to Biblical law. In more recent decades, the feast day has focused increasingly on the day that Jesus was named. Jesus’ name in Hebrew was “Yeshua” which translates to English as Joshua. When Yeshua was translated into Greek (the language of the New Testament) it becomes “lesous,” which in English is Jesus. So often today the loving name of Jesus, which is so powerful and tied to salvation, is invoked casually and often in vain. Honor the name of Jesus, who is the King of Kings. Honor His name, this day and throughout the year.
COLLECT: Written by Collects are short general prayers used in Christian liturgy to draw our focus of worship. The collect today is from the Book of Common Prayer
Almighty God, your blessed Son fulfilled the covenant of circumcision for our sake, and was given the Name that is above every name: Give us grace faithfully to bear his Name, and to worship him with pure hearts according to the New Covenant; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Click on the link to see and hear the music video.
MUSIC VIDEO: Hillsong Worship: What a Beautiful Name.
IMAGE: Albrecht Durer: The Circumcision of Christ
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