Tuesday, December 17, 2013

What's in a name?

What's so special about the names Liam and Emma? According to one source, they were the top names for baby boys and girls born in 2013 in the USA.

How were you named? After a parent or grandparent? In honor of a family friend or close acquaintance? Were your parents looking for a unique or one-of-a-kind name? Was it because of the special meaning behind your name?

When it came to their first born, Mary and Joseph did not have any input into the choice of the name.  God the Father had already chosen a name.  An angel informed Joseph that the baby conceived in Mary would be named Jesus, "because He will save His people from their sins."

The name Jesus means the Lord saves.  Our Savior God lives up to His name.  The apostle Peter said as much when he proclaimed: Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.  Salvation was the mission of the tiny baby whose birth we will soon celebrate.  Like the Samaritans we, too, exclaim: We know that this man is really the Savior of the world.  That's what makes the name Jesus special to us.  The Lord saves you!