Numbers 6:22-27
Psalm 8
Philippians 2:5-11
Luke 2:15-21
Year B
I.N.I. (In the name of Jesus)
We are in the octave of Christmas, octave being a word that is both "churchy" and musical. We are in the eighth day of Christmas (as in "eight maids a milking"), and still sounding the note of Christmas, just in a different octave. This day, the name of Jesus, January 1, is a mirror reflecting Christmas day, December 25, and heralds the trumpet in two octaves that God finds a home with us!
Since the sixth century, churches have built a feast day around one, singular, just one verse from the Bible, Luke 2 verse 21: "After eight days had passed, it was time to circumcise the child; and he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb."
When I think about the event of Jesus' birth told by Luke, I am always struck by the superb combination of things that are ordinary with things that are extraordinary. Census by a tyrant named King Herod, God's Son announced by Gabriel. Shepherds and angels. Peace on earth, and Glory in heaven. The birth of a baby, angels singing about it. Shepherds hurrying to tell, Mary pondering in her heart.
In that one verse today Luke continues this way of planting the event and effect of Jesus by describing the ordinary Jewish practice of honoring the covenant by circumcising the male child with the memory of Mary's encounter with the angel.
Mary and Joseph did not name the boy. God named the boy.
Luke, in his "crafty" way, says "it was time to circumcise the child; and he was called Jesus," this connecting with two other places surrounding Jesus' young life: 1) on the road to Bethlehem it says that Joseph "went to be registered with Mary to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child"; 2) In the verse following the concluding verse of the gospel today, in the event of the Presentation, where it says "When the time came for their purification according the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord." "It was time" sometimes translated as in the fullness of time, or "when the days were accomplished."
So here it is, that on the eighth day, the name of Jesus is given to him, and here it is, that on the eighth day, the name of Jesus is given to us. The octave note sounds and overtones waft into those who through baptism take on that name, who in communion take in the name and person, who in prayer have access to God, who look at others and the world, through Jesus.
And hope fills cracks of New Year's desperation and hangovers. And this child of Mary and child of God himself fills the cracks of illness and demons, outsiders and those gripped by death. We welcome another year
Anno Domini, a year of our Lord, looking to be filled by the combination of our ordinary selves and lives with the extraordinary ways and designs of God, in the name of Jesus.
So be blessed by God, in the name of Jesus, to be a blessing, in the name of Jesus.
I can think of many times where all I was given was Jesus' name, and how powerful those experiences were. I can think of many times where all I could offer was Jesus' name, and how powerful those experiences were.
I know of churches whose practice it is to bow the head every time in the liturgy Jesus' name is uttered, and one I worshipped at who in mind of the letter to the Philippians ("at the name of Jesus every knee should bend") had specific times to kneel, as at the mention of Jesus in the creed.
One of the wonderful ways our Confirmation Ministry links the extraordinary ways of God with our youth is how we conclude our Wednesday evenings, of course always in prayer, but many times with this ritual: pairing up with someone, the sign of the cross is made by one to the other in turn, with words like "May you God's love and blessing this week, in Jesus' name."
I'd like us in this community to give honor to Christ and the name of Jesus by concluding this sermon with you pairing up with another and offering the sign of the cross on another's forehead with these words: "May you know God's presence and love this New Year, in the name of Jesus."
I.N.I.
The Rev. Timothy J. Keyl, Pastor
Christ the King Lutheran Church
