The Holy Name or, The Circumcision of ChristOn January 1st, we celebrate the Circumcision of Christ. Since we are more squeamish than our ancestors, modern calendars often list it as the feast of the Holy Name of Jesus, but the other emphasis is the older. Every Jewish boy was circumcised (and formally named) on the eighth day of his life, and so, one week after Christmas, we celebrate the occasion when Our Lord first shed His blood for us. It is a fit close for a week of martyrs, and reminds us that to suffer for Christ is to suffer with Him.
As we celebrate both the first day of 2010 and the Holy Name of Jesus Christ it would be a good idea to ask ourselves how we plan to serve the Name of Jesus Christ as lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered Christians this year. How will we honor the Name of Jesus Christ in our relationships, in our struggle for civil rights, in our work to be liberated from religious oppression how will the Name and Person of Jesus Christ be reverenced in our work?
A New Year is an opportunity to reset ourselves. We have another chance to begin again and commit ourselves to the work and love of God and our neighbor. We will be challenged this year to speak up on behalf of those marginalized by society and the Church. LGBT Christians are among those who remain marginalized. Our orientations, identities and love are viewed by right wing Christians as immoral and in need of repentance. Rather what the Name of Jesus Christ calls for is a repentance of prejudice and disregard for those who are on the fringes of society. The Incarnation of God in Jesus Christ and the Name of Jesus Christ is a Name that redeems us all from sin. That sin that Jesus frees us from is the sin that allows us to see other people as anything less than children of God. In the Name of Jesus Christ all sinners are given an opportunity to be redeemed by the blood of the Lamb of God and are called to love of God and neighbor. The Name of Jesus Christ is honored when the poor, neglected and stigmatized of society are received with love and mercy.
The world in which Jesus Christ was Named and born into is a world of violence and division caused by a drive for power and selfish greed. As Jesus grew and interacted with that world, he shook up his society by calling those who held on to their power to confront their prejudices and recognize those who had been rejected as people loved by God. The Name of Jesus Christ became well known not for his insistence on being recognized for his own power and dominion, but through his humility. In Philippians 2: 5-11, we read that the humility of Christ raises his Name above all other names. The Name of Jesus Christ is often rejected because Jesus challenges those who exalt themselves to be humbled. Yet it is through the Name of Jesus Christ that those who are humble receive their exaltation. The Name of Jesus Christ challenges us to let go, so that we may receive.
As we go into the Year of 2010 after having been to the Manger to see Jesus, Mary and Joseph will we return to attitudes of apathy and carelessness of those who are marginalized, or will we move forward willing to let the Person and Name of Jesus Christ change our hearts and those of the world. Will we allow the Name of Jesus Christ to help us know that we do not have to rely on our own strength and power to accomplish the work of justice and equality? Can we allow the Name of Jesus Christ to challenge us in our relationships and attitudes? Can we recognize that the Name of Jesus Christ is a Name that means service to others and allows us to let others serve us?
May 2010 be a year where the LGBT Community accomplishes many things. We celebrate with the LGBT Citizens of New Hampshire who as of today can legally marry. Yet we also weep with the Citizens of Maine who could have married today, but due to NOM and the Catholic church lost their marriage equality laws in the last election. As we move forward in 2010 may LGBT Christians let those who think that we cannot be LGBT and Christian know that we are really great Christians. We care about our neighbors and we care about the lack of Christian charity showed by anti-gay people. I pray that LGBT Christians will show through their relationships and activism that we regard the Name of Jesus Christ as the Name of love, charity, goodness and wholeness in our sexual orientations and/or gender identities/expressions. I pray that LGBT Christians will speak up and call anti-gay Christians to recognize in us the Name and witness of Jesus Christ.
Eternal Father, who 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.
(Collect for the Holy Name, Book of Common Prayer, Page 213).
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