The Holy Name of our Lord Jesus Christ

by Deacon Lorna Goodison on December 29, 2022

When I was about eight years old, I asked my mother what my name meant. Lovingly, she confessed she had no explanation for the name, Lorna, but I was given the middle name, Fay because I would grow up to be “a woman of faith.” I cherished her words though not yet understand them!  Names matter. Names are often tied to a person’s identity, purpose or destiny. Throughout the Sacred Scriptures God often changed the name of individuals to affirm their call to a new mission. Jacob was changed to Israel, Abram to Abraham. Sarai to Sarah, Simon to Peter, and Saul to Paul.  

     This coming Sunday, New Year’s Day, we celebrate the great Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus Christ (Luke 2:15-21). The angel Gabriel appeared to Mary and pronounced that the child to be born would be holy. He would be called “the Son of the “Most High” and the “Son of God”.  But the child was to be named Jesus, which means Yahweh saves. When He was eight days old, the newborn baby was circumcised and Mary and Joseph in obedience to the command of the angel from God, named the baby Jesus.  

     Naming the baby Jesus affirmed His divinity; that as the Son of God, He had a specific mission to be God’s agent of salvation in the world.  The Son of the “Most High” was given the “name that is above all names” because He came to earth in human flesh for the supreme, loving, purpose of redeeming humankind and restoring us into harmony with God.

     Jesus’ name is powerful. Faith in His name gives fullness of life, “for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12) Yet Jesus, the Incarnate Son of God was born in lowly circumstances. He came in lowly circumstances to demonstrate God’s kingdom value of humility and submission. He came in lowly circumstances to fulfill His mission of making us holy when we call upon His name, confessing our need for Him. He came in lowly circumstances to demonstrate that the power of love transcends the love of power and worldly greatness. And we find strength and courage to face life’s challenges when we call upon His name.   

      Jesus’ name gives us a sacred identity. In the reading from Numbers 6:22-27, we are reminded of the priestly blessing given to Aaron to mark God’s people as His own. “The Lord bless you and keep you, the Lord make His face shine upon you….So they shall put my name on the Israelites and I will bless them.” In like manner, in baptism, we are sealed by the Holy Spirit and marked as Christ’s own forever. In Jesus’ name, we bear the joint identity of Christians.

       Jesus’ Holy name sanctifies the ordinary. In baptism, we are washed in ordinary water made holy by the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. And each Sunday we participate in the Eucharist and experience ordinary bread and wine sanctified and transformed into the body and blood of Jesus Christ, by the lifting up of His Holy name.

Prayer: Open us, O God to celebrate your Holy name this New Year. Free us from the love of the world that we may see you in the meek and lowly and in the ordinariness of life. Inspire us to do your will and work passionately for your kingdom to come on earth and for your name to be hallowed always. Amen

Tags: identity, faith, jesus, purpose, powerful, meaning, son of god, name

About the Author
Deacon Lorna Goodison

Reverend Lorna Goodison was ordained to the Diaconate on April 29, 2007. After discerning a call to ordained ministry, Deacon Lorna completed a process of spiritual discernment and pursued three years of study at the Diocesan School for Christian Studies. She also completed three units of hospice care training through Vitas and for a short while she was a volunteer Chaplain. Highlights of her continuing education activities include a guided visit to Israel and attending the Festival of Homiletics in Boulder, Colorado.

Soon after her ordination, Deacon Lorna was called to serve as Deacon at St. Mary Magdalene. She initiated an outreach ministry to the homeless at St. Laurence Chapel, obtaining the support and involvement of most members of the congregation. This ministry remained a vibrant outreach of the Church until the Chapel closed in 2019.  Other outreach ministries formed include an informal group of members who stay in touch with members who are ill and shut-in. Deacon Lorna remains committed to both the in-reach and outreach ministries of the Church. She has led quiet day reflections for groups within and outside of St. Mary Magdalene. She has often led Deacon’s Masses at small churches without a priest. Of all the ministries in which Deacon Lorna participates, she is most humbled and grateful to be involved in the ministry of praying with congregants facing life’s challenges.

Deacon Lorna serves the Diocese of Southeast Florida as a member of the Disciplinary Committee. She also serves on the Board of Deacons.   

Professionally, Deacon Lorna worked for some years in Human Resource Departments as a Training Manager, but most of her working years were spent in Social Work. She worked with at-risk teenagers counselling them and guiding them to resources to build a meaningful future. The last twenty years of her profession, were spent working with Seniors, guiding them to the resources needed to maintain their safety and independence. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Social Work and a master’s degree in Adult Education. She is now retired, cherishes some alone time for prayer and reflection, but divides her time between the Church and her family which consists of two daughters, their husbands and three grandchildren.

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