[Propertalk] Holy Name

[robertpmorrison at charter.net]

I put down these thoughts for editing before tomorrow morning!

I hope your evening is suitably enjoyable and tomorrow festive ...

THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF ST. ALBAN, ALBANY      THE MOST HOLY NAME OF OUR 
LORD JESUS CHRIST
EXODUS 34:1-8	                          		    	    	 
1st JANUARY, 2011
ROMANS 1;1-7				                                                 PSALM 8
LUKE 2:15-21

	We’re familiar with the sense behind the opening words of the so-called 
“Church book” or of the “Preacher”, what we call the Books of 
Ecclesiastes and Ecclesiasticus. You might even be able to recite the 
opening lines: “Sheer futility, Qoholeth says, Sheer futility: 
everything is futile. What profit can we show for all our toil, toiling 
under the sun? A generation goes, a generation comes, yet the earth 
stands firm for ever … All things are wearisome.” 1

	What is the point of the fact that getting up this morning, in all 
likelihood, felt no different from getting up yesterday morning; nor 
will it much different tomorrow morning?

	To some this may be bad news – today may not be any better than 
yesterday, nor may tomorrow be better than today. To others this may be 
good news – today may not be any worse than yesterday, nor may tomorrow 
be worse than today.

	I’d be inclined to feel a bit encouraged by the latter opinion, that 
there is a steady improvement of learning and experience, and each day’s 
experiences provide something on which to build. But this is not the 
whole picture of what our faith circumscribes. Nor is it strictly true 
in terms of reality. Today may NOT be as encouraging, somehow. What we 
dreamed of yesterday, whether awake or asleep, may not materialize – 
today or any day soon.

	However, our faith DOES teach us that whatever today may be about, it’s 
not a day filled with emptiness; it’s not a day without hope. Nor is 
this a day on which we decide to disbelieve in dreams.

	Today is the day on which we come together to observe God in all 
vulnerability and tininess being presented and enrolled in that 
marvellous company of all God’s faithful people, according to the dreams 
and rites of Abraham and Moses. We witness today the Son of God taking 
upon Himself the sign of being human AND of being part of the faithful 
who strive to live according to the guidance of the commandments. And on 
that day one hundred and ninety-two hours after His birth, that Baby was 
enrolled through the granting of a name, a tradition we follow to this 
day, in many different religious observances.

	This naming is part of the tradition of signing each individual, and, 
in fact, of each day, and of each place. All are named to be beacons to 
those who visit and interact with these people in these places.

	Unfortunately, we’ve become less observant of acknowledging the meaning 
behind giving names. Oh yes, we DO recognise the uniqueness of how we 
think and speak of different indididuals. We DO discover still an 
excitement on hearing a name that has become especially significant to 
us. But I think we may have forgotten how much names can define the 
relationships we share, and the blessings we receive, through our 
interaction in creation with God.

	This naming ceremony which we remember today reminds us of the bringing 
of hope to a people and a land which “walked in great in darkness”. 
Jesus – or in the form in which it would have been heard in His own ears 
– “Jeshua”, means “God is generous. God saves. God delivers”.

	But God has never stopped this signing, this naming. God continues to 
take such delight in leaving signs for us – signs in words, signs in 
pictures, signs in you, and me, and all people. God was there, in Jesus, 
the one named “by the angel before he was conceived”. And God continues 
to be here, in our own darknesses, softly speaking names – saying, “I 
save. I AM generous. I DO deliver”, and then speaking also our own 
names, carefully drawing us into the wonder of creation, and reminding 
us of how special we all are.

	So when we face separation – as Lew Hurd’s family experienced just 
before Christmas; when we face surgery and treatment – as Melinda did 
earlier this week and in the days to come; when we continue to wonder 
about economic security, and jobs in this city, and an end to all those 
arsons; whatever we face, God still speaks; God still signs; God still 
says, “I AM HERE”.

	Of course, the signs look different to each generation and even to each 
individual. But our act of coming together this morning to worship and 
to give thanks is an act of celebration. It’s an act which makes hope 
more concrete for ourselves and offers witness to the world. It’s an act 
which says that we will keep listening. Today, to us, IS better than 
yesterday, and tomorrow WILL be better than today – because each day, 
each moment, is filled with the sound of
God’s voice indelibly coupled with our own, speaking comfort, reassuring 
us that we belong to Jesus Christ.

	What’s in a name? For Jesus, it was a reminder of who He is. To others 
it remains a sign of hope and love. What’s in YOUR name? Above all, it’s 
a sign of God’s pleasure in each of us. It’s also a reminder both of our 
individuality and of the common link we all share – the love that draws 
us to be there for one another as Jesus’ Presence, to bring Light to all 
that is dark and unsettling. Your name, my name, all our names given by 
God, are the antidote to all that is wearisome.

NOTE:
  1	Ecclesiastes 1:2-4, 8a New Jerusalem Bible.

Robert P Morrison
Interim Vicar
The Episcopal Church of St Alban
PO Box 1556
Albany OR  97321   541-921-1076 (cell)
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