today's readings are 1 John 2: 29 and 3:1-6; Psalm 98 and John 1: 29-34
It is on this day that we have the opportunity to celebrate the Holy Name of Jesus.
This tradition is based on our Christian belief that there is an intrinsic power in the name of Jesus (Yeshua in the original Hebrew, literally, "God saves').
In St. Joseph's first dream, the angel instructs Joseph: "You shall call His name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins" (Mt. 1:21), in which the angel points out the idea that saving people is linked to their sins. This truth is further emphasized by the fact that Matthew pays more attention to the name of the newborn Saviour and its theological implications than the actual birth event itself. Matthew also points out that His name was not selected at random, but based on a Heavenly command.
Reverence for the name of Jesus is emphasized by Saint Paul in Phil. 2:10 where he states: "That in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those that are in heaven, on earth, and under the earth". In Romans 10: 13 Paul reiterates the salvific nature of the Holy Name by stating that those who "call on the name of the Lord" will be saved.
His name is sacred, it is holy. And today we honour that name.