The Eighth Day of Christmas
The Eighth Day of Christmas: The Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, or The Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus
by Chris Pipkin
It’s fascinating to me when God bothers to command parents to give their children specific names. First, it seems strange that a name should matter at all to someone’s destiny. Can’t God achieve his purposes through someone, even if their name is not Jesus, or John, or Maher-shalal-hash-baz? I mean, the patriarchs of the twelve tribes of Israel were given joke-names, for crying out loud, that alluded to the Great Conception Contest between Rachel and Leah, and they still managed to accomplish a good deal (namely, to become patriarchs and throw Joseph in a well). The second odd thing about this practice of God telling Mary and Joseph what to name Jesus is that God could have pulled the right strings and pushed the right buttons in terms of Mary and Joseph’s mental processes and upbringing, so that they simply arrived at the name “Jesus” naturally. But he didn’t. He instead wanted their cooperation and obedience in giving this tiny body an audible identifier.
When we’ve given our kids names, it’s always reminded me a bit of that part at the beginning of Peter Pan where he’s lost his shadow, and can’t put it back on, so Wendy has to sew it to him and even then, it’s touch-and-go. He’s not sure if it will take. Here’s this beautiful little miracle that you’ve known about for several months but are only now just getting to know as a separate person, and you have the presumption to give it a label that never, at first, seems to stick. Later, of course, you can’t think of the baby having any other name, but that’s after they’ve really grown into it, and the man-made name has been fused irrevocably to the God-made baby. At first the name seems arbitrary and the verbal stitch job you’ve just done of applying three (or more) names to this endlessly potential creature seems clumsy indeed. It is, in some ways, the first conscious effort you’ve made in marking a baby (which seems like a blank canvas) with the particular markings of your own culture. You’ve now taken an active role in tethering this natural thing to your particular civilization. I bet this is part of the reason that, in Jesus’ culture, naming went along with circumcision. When you do it, you are inflicting a particular cultural identity on something that transcends this identity—but is attached to and shaped by it all the same—and you are acknowledging that this eternal soul has a specific destiny.
In reality, of course, not only have you marked the child already (by speaking your language around him while he was in the womb, by eating certain foods, by passing your genes on), but the ideal, universal baby you hold has many of your particular quirks, flaws, and virtues that are just waiting to manifest themselves. Now, the God of the Hebrews, who has refused to give himself a name, other than I Am That I Am (despite permitting cultural shorthands that have become generic words for gods or nobility, such as “Elohim,” “Lord,” “Adonai,” “God,” “Deus”) has commanded that this bewildered couple name the Incarnate Word itself! And the name “Jesus”—is entirely culturally conventional. There are other guys named Jesus mentioned, even in the Gospels.
Yet now the transcendent, absolute Principle of Life has addressed himself to human beings, using the name “Jesus,” which in his chosen, particular culture links him with Joshua (the successor of Moses, who led Israel into the Promised Land), and also means “one who saves.” So Yahweh, whose name in Hebrew is basically “Don’t try to label me because I’m not small enough for your categories,” has given himself a particular identity that aligns with his function relative to Israel (and–as it happens–to all humanity): “You will call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” God the Son, existing before eternity in Trinity with the Father and Spirit, is now named Jesus. In becoming Incarnate, he has drawn humanity up into the eternal Godhead, and thus makes the particularities of Jesus’ genes, Jesus’ traditions, Jesus’ languages, into specific facets of Almighty God. Jesus’ human, first-century Aramaic Jewishness and the salvation of humans are now a central aspect of the identity of God. It would be scandalous enough to treat them as means by which God has identified himself to us: “You finite people should think of Me, transcendent though I am, as a Jewish guy named Jesus because your tiny minds can’t comprehend Me.” But this “scandal of particularity,” as it has been called, goes deeper: Because God exists as Trinity, in community, the specific cultural elements and mission are now part of the way Jesus is identified to the Father, through the Holy Spirit. God has, in other words, used human culture and categories—as well as Christ’s own mission relative to humans–to identify himself to himself. The Son is “Jesus” not only to us, but to the Father and Holy Spirit.
“And Mary, through whom Jesus is born, who assents to the Incarnation, who works with God to give to God a people and a name, becomes, in a sense, our own Jewish mother. For her Son draws us toward him, toward the fulfillment of the longings of every heart, in every culture within the eternal exchange of love and life that exists within the Trinity.”
This brings us to Mary, the “Theotokos,” the God-bearer, from whom Christ most directly took his humanity, his cultural and genetic heritage, and his name (she is called the God-bearer, by the way, not to imply that she herself is divine, but to emphasize the fact that Christ, whom she bore, is fully God). Her song of praise, the “Magnificat,” in Luke 1, is very well known, to the point that we often forget how culturally specific it is. It could be taken straight from the Psalms and could be interpreted (as an editorial in The Washington Post once rather gleefully, pointed out) along purely political lines. The list of things Mary announces that her child will do fit in perfectly with the expectations of the Jewish Messiah that were held during her time (and that cost Jesus many followers when he refused them). The Savior, the Jesus her song anticipates will overthrow the present, particular tyrants who oppress her own people. I do not know if, at this time, she sees beyond this, to anticipate the means by which this occurs: How God will take a thoroughly Jewish song like the Magnificat, and a thoroughly Jewish figure like the Messiah, and—through Mary’s response—fulfill it in a way that transcends particulars and transforms humanity itself, destroying Death and Sin and allowing for all people to be adopted as sons of God.
For Jesus, while absolutely one with his culture, refused to allow that culture to limit the salvation he brought. Mary, born (as her Son was) of a particular people, voices longings that can ultimately be answered, not by a change of regime but only by the regeneration worked in the hearts of her people and all people. And Mary, through whom Jesus is born, who assents to the Incarnation, who works with God to give to God a people and a name, becomes, in a sense, our own Jewish mother. For her Son draws us toward him, toward the fulfillment of the longings of every heart, in every culture within the eternal exchange of love and life that exists within the Trinity. This is thanks to the marks he received at the hands of the Gentiles, when he was named “King of the Jews.” It is here that we receive our new marks, our new names.
January 1
Activities
- Arrange an impromptu brunch with family and/or friends.
- Go for a walk or a hike (weather permitting).
- Choose an organization or charity to give to consistently throughout the next twelve months.
- Look up New Year’s Day parades that are being held in your own town or in local towns.
- Decide to take up a hobby for the next twelve months and create a timetable to allow you to fit that hobby in amongst your other obligations.
presents!
Gift Giving
- Give one of the gifts you did not give on the first day of Christmas.
- A book with a character who has an interesting name, a personalized gift or one that reminds you of your loved one’s name.
- For Catholics, this may be a great day to give someone a rosary.
- Give someone a book you think they would enjoy this year.
- NO CASH OPTION: Create a “mixtape” (playlist) for someone else (a list on Spotify or Youtube, perhaps) featuring twelve songs, one for each month of the coming year
Literature
THE LION, THE WITCH, AND THE WARDROBE: FATHER CHRISTMAS
By C.S. Lewis. This seemed appropriate for the New Year, though it has less to do with Jesus’ name or with Mary.
“Didn’t I tell you,” answered Mr. Beaver, “that [the White Witch had] made it always winter and never Christmas? Didn’t I tell you? Well, just come and see!”
And then they were all at the top and did see.
It was a sledge, and it was reindeer with bells on their harness. But they were far bigger than the Witch’s reindeer, and they were not white but brown. And on the sledge sat a person whom everyone knew the moment they set eyes on him. He was a huge man in a bright red robe (bright as holly-berries) with a hood that had fur inside it and a great white beard that fell like a foamy waterfall over his chest. Everyone knew him because, though you see people of his sort only in Narnia, you see pictures of them and hear them talked about even in our world—the world on this side of the wardrobe door. But when you really see them in Narnia it is rather different. Some of the pictures of Father Christmas in our world make him look only funny and jolly. But now that the children actually stood looking at him they didn’t find it quite like that. He was so big, and so glad, and so real, that they all became quite still. They felt very glad, but also solemn.
“I’ve come at last,” said he. “She has kept me out for a long time, but I have got in at last. Aslan is on the move. The Witch’s magic is weakening.”
And Lucy felt running through her that deep shiver of gladness which you only get if you are being solemn and still.
“And now,” said Father Christmas, “for your presents. There is a new and better sewing machine for you, Mrs. Beaver. I will drop it in your house as I pass.”
“If you please, sir,” said Mrs. Beaver, making a curtsey. “It’s locked up.”
“Locks and bolts make no difference to me,” said Father Christmas. “And as for you, Mr. Beaver, when you get home you will find your dam finished and mended and all the leaks stopped and a new sluice gate fitted.”
Mr. Beaver was so pleased that he opened his mouth very wide and then found he couldn’t say anything at all.
“Peter, Adam’s Son,” said Father Christmas.
“Here, Sir,” said Peter.
“These are your presents,” was the answer, “and they are tools not toys. The time to use them is perhaps near at hand. Bear them well.” With these words he handed to Peter a shield and a sword. The shield was the colour of silver and across it there ramped a red lion, as bright as a ripe strawberry at the moment when you pick it. The hilt of the sword was of gold and it had a sheath and a sword belt and everything it needed, and it was just the right size and weight for Peter to use. Peter was silent and solemn as he received these gifts for he felt they were a very serious kind of present.
“Susan, Eve’s Daughter,” said Father Christmas. “These are for you,” and he handed her a bow and a quiver full of arrows and a little ivory horn. “You must use the bow only in great need,” he said, “for I do not mean you to fight in the battle. It does not easily miss. And when you put this horn to your lips and blow it, then, wherever you are, I think help of some kind will come to you.”
Last of all he said, “Lucy, Eve’s Daughter,” and Lucy came forward. He gave her a little bottle of what looked like glass (but people said afterwards that it was made of diamond) and a small dagger. “In this bottle,” he said, “there is a cordial made of the juice of one of the fire-flowers that grow in the mountains of the sun. If you or any of your friends are hurt, a few drops of this will restore you. And the dagger is to defend yourself at great need. For you also are not to be in the battle.”
“Why, Sir,” said Lucy. “I think—I don’t know—but I think I could be brave enough.”
“That is not the point,” he said. “But battles are ugly when women fight. And now”—here he suddenly looked less grave—”here is something for the moment for you all!” and he brought out (I suppose from the big bag at his back, hut nobody quite saw him do it) a large tray containing five cups and saucers, a bowl of lump sugar, a jug of cream, and a great big teapot all sizzling and piping hot. Then he cried out “A Merry Christmas! Long live the true King!” and cracked his whip and he and the reindeer and the sledge and all were out of sight before anyone realised that they had started.
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. (From the Book of Common Prayer)
Daily Scripture
Use a lectionary from your own tradition:
Alternatively, use one or more of the following readings:
Old Testament
Exodus 3 (ESV)
Now Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian, and he led his flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 2 And the angel of the Lordappeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush was burning, yet it was not consumed. 3 And Moses said, “I will turn aside to see this great sight, why the bush is not burned.” 4 When the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” 5 Then he said, “Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.” 6 And he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.
7 Then the Lord said, “I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings, 8 and I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. 9 And now, behold, the cry of the people of Israel has come to me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them. 10 Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.” 11 But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?” 12 He said, “But I will be with you, and this shall be the sign for you, that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.”
13 Then Moses said to God, “If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?” 14 God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I am has sent me to you.’” 15 God also said to Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations. 16 Go and gather the elders of Israel together and say to them, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, has appeared to me, saying, “I have observed you and what has been done to you in Egypt, 17 and I promise that I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt to the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, a land flowing with milk and honey.”’ 18 And they will listen to your voice, and you and the elders of Israel shall go to the king of Egypt and say to him, ‘The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us; and now, please let us go a three days’ journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God.’ 19 But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless compelled by a mighty hand. 20 So I will stretch out my hand and strike Egypt with all the wonders that I will do in it; after that he will let you go. 21 And I will give this people favor in the sight of the Egyptians; and when you go, you shall not go empty, 22 but each woman shall ask of her neighbor, and any woman who lives in her house, for silver and gold jewelry, and for clothing. You shall put them on your sons and on your daughters. So you shall plunder the Egyptians.”
Isaiah 9 (DRA)
At the first time the land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephtali was lightly touched: and at the last the way of the sea beyond the Jordan of the Galilee of the Gentiles was heavily loaded.
2 The people that walked in darkness, have seen a great light: to them that dwelt in the region of the shadow of death, light is risen.
3 Thou hast multiplied the nation, and hast not increased the joy. They shall rejoice before thee, as they that rejoice in the harvest, as conquerors rejoice after taking a prey, when they divide the spoils.
4 For the yoke of their burden, and the rod of their shoulder, and the sceptre of their oppressor thou hast overcome, as in the day of Median.
5 For every violent taking of spoils, with tumult, and garment mingled with blood, shall be burnt, and be fuel for the fire.
6 For a CHILD IS BORN to us, and a son is given to us, and the government is upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called, Wonderful, Counsellor, God the Mighty, the Father of the world to come, the Prince of Peace.
7 His empire shall be multiplied, and there shall be no end of peace: he shall sit upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom; to establish it and strengthen it with judgment and with justice, from henceforth and for ever: the zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.
8 The Lord sent a word into Jacob, and it hath lighted upon Israel.
9 And all the people of Ephraim shall know, and the inhabitants of Samaria that say in the pride and haughtiness of their heart:
10 The bricks are fallen down, but we will build with square stones: they have cut down the sycamores, but we will change them for cedars.
11 And the Lord shall set up the enemies of Rasin over him, and shall bring on his enemies in a crowd:
12 The Syrians from the east, and the Philistines from the west: and they shall devour Israel with open mouth, For all this his indignation is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.
13 And the people are not returned to him who hath struck them, and have not sought after the Lord of hosts.
14 And the Lord shall destroy out of Israel the head and the tail, him that bendeth down, and him that holdeth back, in one day.
15 The aged and honourable, he is the head: and the prophet that teacheth lies, he is the tail.
16 And they that call this people blessed, shall cause them to err: and they that are called blessed, shall be thrown down headlong.
17 Therefore the Lord shall have no joy in their young men: neither shall he have mercy on their fatherless, and widows: for every one is a hypocrite and wicked, and every mouth hath spoken folly. For all this his indignation is not turned away, but his bend is stretched out still.
18 For wickedness is kindled as a fire, it shall devour the brier and the thorn: and shall kindle in the thicket of the forest, and it shall be wrapped up in smoke ascending on high.
19 By the wrath of the Lord of hosts the land is troubled, and the people shall be as fuel for the fire: no man shall spare his brother.
20 And he shall turn to the right hand, and shall be hungry: and shall eat on the left hand, and shall not be filled: every one shall eat the flesh of his own arm: Manasses Ephraim, and Ephraim Manasses, and they together shall be against Judah.
21 After all these things his indignation is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.
Psalm 118 (KJV)
O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: because his mercy endureth for ever.
2 Let Israel now say, that his mercy endureth for ever.
3 Let the house of Aaron now say, that his mercy endureth for ever.
4 Let them now that fear the Lord say, that his mercy endureth for ever.
5 I called upon the Lord in distress: the Lord answered me, and set me in a large place.
6 The Lord is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?
7 The Lord taketh my part with them that help me: therefore shall I see my desire upon them that hate me.
8 It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man.
9 It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes.
10 All nations compassed me about: but in the name of the Lord will I destroy them.
11 They compassed me about; yea, they compassed me about: but in the name of the Lord I will destroy them.
12 They compassed me about like bees: they are quenched as the fire of thorns: for in the name of the Lord I will destroy them.
13 Thou hast thrust sore at me that I might fall: but the Lord helped me.
14 The Lord is my strength and song, and is become my salvation.
15 The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tabernacles of the righteous: the right hand of the Lord doeth valiantly.
16 The right hand of the Lord is exalted: the right hand of the Lord doeth valiantly.
17 I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord.
18 The Lord hath chastened me sore: but he hath not given me over unto death.
19 Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will go into them, and I will praise the Lord:
20 This gate of the Lord, into which the righteous shall enter.
21 I will praise thee: for thou hast heard me, and art become my salvation.
22 The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.
23 This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.
24 This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.
25 Save now, I beseech thee, O Lord: O Lord, I beseech thee, send now prosperity.
26 Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the Lord: we have blessed you out of the house of the Lord.
27 God is the Lord, which hath shewed us light: bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar.
28 Thou art my God, and I will praise thee: thou art my God, I will exalt thee.
29 O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
New Testament
Philippians 2:1-18 (ESV)
So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing, 15 that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16 holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. 17 Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. 18 Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me.
Luke 1:26-56 (ESV)
In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary.28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” 29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. 30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
34 And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”
35 And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. 36 And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.
39 In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, 40 and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41 And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, 42 and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”
46 And Mary said,
“My soul magnifies the Lord,
47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48 for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.
For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
49 for he who is mighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
50 And his mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.
51 He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;
52 he has brought down the mighty from their thrones
and exalted those of humble estate;
53 he has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
54 He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
55 as he spoke to our fathers,
to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”
56 And Mary remained with her about three months and returned to her home.
Sing With joy
Christmas Carols
“For unto us a Child is Born”
For unto us a Child is born
Unto us a Son is given
And the government
Shall be upon His shoulder
And his name shall be called
Wonderful
Counselor
The Mighty God
The Everlasting Father
The Prince of Peace.
“There is No Rose”
There is no rose of such virtue
As is the rose that bare Jesu.
There is no rose oof such virtue
As is the rose that bare Jesu.
Alleluia.
For in this rose contain-ed was
Heaven and earth in little space;
Res miranda.
By that rose we may well see
That he is God in persons three,
Pari forma.
The angels sungen the shepherds to:
Gloria in excelsis Deo:
Gaudeamus.
Leave we all this worldly mirth,
And follow we this joyful birth;
Transeamus.
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