New Year’s Day is often associated with festivities, resolutions, and fresh starts. For Christians, this day carries an even deeper significance as we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus. This feast commemorates the naming and circumcision of Jesus, a moment rich with meaning and deeply rooted in Jewish tradition.
The Naming and Circumcision of Jesus
It was a Jewish custom for newborn boys to be named and circumcised eight days after their birth. This practice, grounded in the covenant between God and Abraham, signified the child’s inclusion in God’s chosen people. For Jesus, this moment also marked the fulfillment of divine prophecy. The angel Gabriel had appeared to Mary, instructing her to name the child Jesus:
And when eight days were completed for the circumcision of the Child, His name was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb. —Luke 2:21
The name "Jesus," meaning “God saves,” reveals His pivotal role in human salvation. By giving Him this name, the world was reminded that the infant in the manger was no ordinary child but the Savior of all humanity.
The Power of the Name of Jesus
The name of Jesus holds profound significance in Christian faith. It is central to our prayers, our worship, and our hope. Through His name, we experience the power of salvation, healing, and reconciliation. The Apostle Paul reflects on the majesty of Jesus’ name in his letter to the Philippians:
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. —Philippians 2:9-11
To invoke the name of Jesus is to proclaim His lordship and to honor the immeasurable gift of His presence in our lives. It is a name that unites heaven and earth, calling us to bow in humility and gratitude before the one who came to save us.
How to celebrate the Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus
Make God Cakes. In Coventry, England, it is traditional to visit your godchild on this day and bring them “God-cakes.” God Cakes are little triangular cakes (in honor of the Trinity) with sweet filling.
Wear white. In Brazil, Christians dress in white, symbolizing forgiveness of sins for the previous year and the purity of a new year and new life in Christ.
Wake up early. In Switzerland, the day is also known as Saint Sylvester's Day. In the morning, children compete with one another to see who can wake up the earliest; the child who wakes up the latest is playfully teased.
Ring bells and yodel. For centuries, huge festivals have been held in regions of Switzerland. Men masquerade as Silvesterklaus, a masked person in an elaborate costume, taking part in Saint Sylvester’s Day festivities. In Appenzell, Switzerland, the Silvesterkläuse put on their strange costumes, rang huge bells, sang a very slow yodel, and walked in small groups from house to house, wishing people a happy new year.
Do the devotion for the day.
Devotion for the Day
Light the Christ candle. Begin your devotion time with the following invitation to prayer:
Leader: The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
Leader: Let us pray.
Opening prayer:
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 and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.
Read Luke 2:21
21 On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child,he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.
Read Philippians 2:9-11
9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
Close with a prayer thanking God for his goodness and asking for his
guidance and protection for you and all who are in any need or trouble.
End your devotion by saying the Lord’s Prayer together.
the recipe -
Comments