麻豆约拍

Good morning and a very Happy New Year!

However this morning finds us, whether we鈥檙e waking up to a new day or perhaps arriving home after a long night of work or celebration, regardless of our readiness, the New Year has arrived. So much lies ahead and all of it is, as yet, unknown.

The Christian Church celebrates the naming of Jesus today. Luke鈥檚 Gospel tells that this happened eight days after his birth. The most extraordinary detail in this story from the Bible is that Jesus name was given to his mother, by an angel before he鈥檇 even been conceived.

Our names are important; they express something about the hopes of those who first cared for us. My parents told me that one of my names is the middle name of the grandmother I never knew who was incredibly kind. I wish they鈥檇 given me her first name 鈥� I鈥檇 love to have been a Florence, but I hope I can live up to her example.

The story of the naming of Jesus says something beautiful about God鈥檚 intentions. 鈥淛esus鈥� means 鈥淕od saves鈥� and the story of his naming communicates that he was known completely before he existed. This reflects a repeating message from the Bible expressed poetically in the Psalms, one of which says of God 鈥淚t was you who created my inmost self, and you put me together in my mother鈥檚 womb鈥�.听听听听听听听听听听听听听

I can think of no better way to start a New Year than with a fresh reminder of the Christian message that we鈥檙e completely known by a loving God, who treasures each one of us just as we are. None of us knows what 2016 may bring but we can face our future with greater hope and confidence if we know we鈥檙e already loved.

Creator God, thank you that you know us and love us. Bless us with the courage we need each day to embrace our future with hope and to live as signs of your love, peace and joy. Amen.

听