In Octava Nativitatis Domini - Jesus Receives His Holy Name

LESSON: He was called Jesus

This year, as today’s feast of the Circumcision of Christ falls on a Sunday, it means that the Feast of the Most Holy Name of Our Lord, which normally occurs on the Sunday between January 1st and the Feast of the Epiphany, gets transferred to Monday the Second.

Nevertheless, these two great mysteries are intimately linked together. As our Gospel says today, “And after eight days were accomplished, that the child should be Hcircumcised, his name was called JESUS, which was called by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.”

It was on this day that the infant Jesus received His Holy Name, in accord with Jewish tradition, so I think it is fitting that we contemplate that great mystery today.

Jesus, a name which means “God saves,” how appropriate it is to call our Saviour by this name, who gave light, liberty, and salvation, not just to one people only, but to all people of all ages—to those oppressed, not by famine, or Egyptian or Babylonian bondage, but those sitting in the shadow of death and fettered by the chains of sin and the devil—who purchased for us a right to the inheritance of Heaven and reconciled us to God the Father.

EXPLANATION: The Little Boy Julian

In the days of St. Ephrem, there lived a pious scholar whose name was Julian. St. Ephrem was his teacher, and he loved the boy because he was so good and gentle. There was one thing that the Saint had to find fault with: the boy did not take good care of his books. In many places, the words were entirely blotted out, and it seemed as if some of them had been eaten away.

One day the Saint took up the book to look at it, and he saw that it was at those places where the Name of Jesus had been written that the book was thus destroyed. “My child,” St. Ephrem said to him, “why is it that you have rubbed out everywhere in your book the holy Name of Jesus?”

The humble boy immediately answered: “My dear Father, I love Jesus, my beloved Saviour, with all my heart; and whenever I see His holy Name in my book, I remember how Mary Magdalen, who was a great sinner, kissed the feet of Jesus, and how He forgave her all her sins.

I cannot see Jesus nor kiss His sacred feet as she did, but I often see His blessed Name in my book, and I kiss over and over again the place where it is written, asking Him at the same time to pardon me my sins, and telling Him that I love Him with all my heart and that I long for the time when I may see Him in Heaven.”

St. Ephrem answered the boy with a smile, saying: “My dear child, may God in His mercy hear your prayer and grant you what you so earnestly ask of Him! but for the time to come, try to take better care of your books.”

Would that we all had such reverence for the Most Holy Name of Jesus.

IMPLICATION: Honouring the Name of Jesus

“Jesus,” the Name given from on high, from the lips of the Father to the ear of St. Joseph. It is the name for which we should have the utmost reverence.

As Christians, our tongues should constantly celebrate the divine praises. We have many ways to honour the name of Jesus; the following are just a few.

In the first place, Jesus’ Holy name is honoured when we publicly and confidently confess Him to be Our Lord and our God; and when we acknowledge and proclaim Christ to be the author of our salvation.

Jesus’ Name is also honoured when we pay a religious attention to the word of God, which announces to us His will; when we make it the subject of our constant meditation; and strive by reading or hearing it to become more and more acquainted with it.

Again, we honour and venerate the Holy Name when we celebrate His praises, and under all circumstances, whether prosperous or adverse, we return Him unbounded thanks.

Finally, the Holy Name is no less honoured when we confidently invoke His assistance, either to relieve us from our afflictions or to give us strength to endure them with fortitude.

Let us honour the Most Holy Name of Jesus in our hearts and speak it reverently with our lips, knowing that it is our salvation.