Sometimes I think we take it all too casually, but names really matter. We have names that were given to us shortly after our birth, and we like it when people remember our name. Sometimes we get irritated when people give us nicknames, or don’t call us by the right name.
There are rituals for giving names. The details and variety are fascinating; too many to elaborate this morning.
Having a name gives a child a place in the community. A name gives identity. In some societies the name indicates the expected future course of events for the one being named, as it did in the ancient days of Jesus’ birth.
The name a child is given will be carried with him or her for their entire life. The name could inspire and bring life and hope or it could bring shame, sorrow or stigma throughout their life.
Do you know the story behind how you were named?
Is there some special story connected with your name in your family history?
Several years ago, I learned that my great grandfather’s family had a naming tradition which dated back to the revolutionary war. It seems that during the war Ethan Allen had occasion to stay in the home of my ancestors, and later he became a regular visitor in the home during his lifetime. The tradition was that the name the first born son would include the name Ethan. If the first born was a girl the child’s name would include a feminine version, Ethie.
My grandmother was Ruth Ethie Wilson. But sometimes people reject longstanding traditions. It seems that this was a tradition my grandmother had no interest in carrying on. It stopped with her. My uncle was named Richard Berkeley, and my Aunt was Barbara Eloise. I wonder if my grandmother pulled a sly one on her father when she named my aunt, only using the initial E?
I was named after my mother’s sister, my aunt Barbara, and my mother’s best friend in high school. When I was young, I was called BJ, until one day I began demanding that family use my given name. “No more nicknames! Don’t call me Barbie, I’m not a doll. Don’t call me barb, that’s my aunt”
I never took the time to learn about Saint Barbara, even though we lived in Santa Barbara for a period of time growing up. Not until one of my brother’s gifted Tim and I with a pair of Icons, one of St. Timothy and one of St. Barbara.
The other day I was once again reading the hagiography of Saint Barbara. Such a magnitude of martyrdom was contained within the short story I could scarcely imagine myself in the same place.
Living in the third century, Barbara was the daughter of a powerful and wealthy pagan man. The father loved his daughter so much he kept her locked in a tower to keep her safe from the dangers of the world. Her only contact with the outside community was through the tutors her father arranged for her as she grew to maturity. Eventually, however that protection worked against him. Barbara gained knowledge of the Christian religion through some of the tutors. While her father was away she managed to made contact with Ignatius and Valentine, as the story goes, by the providence of God. She accepted this new religion asking to be baptized in a pool on the premises of her father’s estate which he had built for her use, as well as giving instructions to workers altering her fathers original instructions to include a third window in the space, to honor the Holy Trinity.
Upon his return home, the discovery of some architectural changes were the first clues to her father that Barbara had converted to Christianity, and was set on a path of spiritual maturity.
His anger was so intense that after being beaten for her assertion of independence, she escaped to the wilds and took shelter in a cave in the region nearby. Her father did eventually regain custody of her. He demanded that the civil authorities issue a death decree for her paying cult to non-roman gods, even to the point of being her executioner. When her father regained possession of her, in spite of the love he professed which motivated his desire to protect her, in his rage he himself wielded the executioners axe which beheaded her and Julia, another convert to Christ, who sheltered and cared for Barbara while they hid in a cave. I am thankful for her life of faith, and more thankful that Jesus hasn’t called on me to pursue the life he called upon Barbara to endure.
It is more common now for parents in the US to either to choose a name of someone they hold in admiration or to go through lists of names looking for a name that fits some specific criteria; does it sound good; is it unique; different; or resplendent with meaning;
Names resplendent with meaning, like the name announced by the Angels who appeared to Mary and Joseph, Jesus- the Romanized form of Yeshua, which means “Yahweh is salvation” where often given to children of the people of God’s covenant.
This morning’s gospel lesson brings to a close the Nativity narrative and fulfills all that was required of Mary and Joseph. We missed out on some of the best parts of the story the way the lectionary has started and stopped. We miss out on Simeon and Anna’s encounter with Mary and Joseph, following the circumcision and naming at the temple.
But we cannot miss the testimony of Joseph’s trust in God, demonstrated through his very public act of circumcision. Joseph could have performed the circumcision anywhere, but he made a point of doing the circumcision where the community would be able to see him. In this public act, any concern Mary may have had about what the future held between her and Joseph, was removed. By performing the two rituals in public Joseph made clear to onlookers that he accepted the child as his own. By naming him Jesus he also demonstrated his trust in and faithfulness to God.
Circumcision was a sign of belonging to the covenant people of God. God made the covenant with the people of Israel, not because they were best or worthy, but because God chose them.
Did you know that circumcision was not always conducted at infancy? Just as Isaac was circumcised as a teenager, this was an early tradition of God’s people. In fact, often the circumcision wasn’t performed until the time of Marriage, and it was performed by the father-in-law.
The Hebrew word for father-in-law literally means circumciser
But today’s gospel lesson makes an important point to the people in Judea, and to the listeners of the early church, as well as to us.
Luke tells us that in the case Jesus, he was circumcised at the time of his naming, and through this account we see the faith of parents demonstrated in through their fulfillment of what was instructed to them before the birth.
The emphasis on the use of the name confirms a spiritual truth, while the circumcision itself holds a social function. Commentators Richard Rohrbaugh and Bruce Malina, say that the circumcision could have been performed much later. Joseph’s performing the circumcision on the eighth day conveys a message of acceptance of the child before the baby can begin to demonstrate his character. Joseph unconditionally accepted the baby and followed the instructions of the angel.
For Mary, the concern about any stigma regarding the conception of her fist born has been nullified in the ritual. Together, Joseph and Mary respond to the Angelic instructions with obedience. While they are still within the Temple Precincts the parents receive not just one, but two prophetic announcements of assurance that Jesus will live into the name that has been bestowed upon the little boy child.
What is this holy name that has been placed on the child? The Hebrew name meant Yahweh is savior.
Savior. What a heavy burden this little baby has been given to carry throughout his life.
The work of God’s coming to be among humanity began in the very common and usual ways any child would have lived in Judea. Only the name he was given at birth was a clue to the work that lie before him when he became a man.
Through our baptism we have each been given new names. We each bear the name of Christ as part of our identity; that special name; Christian. The identification as Christian reflects our being one with Jesus Christ, anointed and claimed by God as one of his own.
As Paul wrote to the Galatians “In the fullness of time, God sent his son.” God sent his son to reveal the love the Heavenly Father has for us. From that mystery of incarnation we receive faith by faith; that we would experience the completeness of being in Christ. Each of us, have the capacity, by the grace of God, to be bearers of Christ into the world.
Sometimes the name we have been given isn’t good enough. It is incomplete in meaning or leaves the bearer feeling insignificant. In those cases it is for us to give a name and identity, a name that will fill the person with the awareness of God’s abiding love for them.
This is the work God invites us to share, in the example of Jesus as Healer. Our work is a work of reuniting God’s children with God. We can speak new life into being through the words of God. The work of including all people into God’s covenant people is work that removes the mark of insignificance and marginalization. This is our work, joining Joseph in naming and authenticating the children of God.
Today the significance of our feast is recognizing God’s profound love for humanity, that God is Salvation.
“Eternal Father, you gave to your incarnate son the holy name of Jesus to be the sign of our salvation: Plant in every heart we pray, the love of him who is the savior of the world, our Lord Jesus Christ: who lives with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen (BCP)
“So they shall put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.” Numbers 6:27
“When the fullness of time had come, God sent his son, born of a woman, born under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children. And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying “Abba, Father!” So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God.” Galatians 4:4-7
“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.” Luke 2:21
Preached January 1, 2012 for St. Timothy's Episcopal Church, Apple Valley, CA
Preached January 1, 2012 for St. Timothy's Episcopal Church, Apple Valley, CA
