Naming a Child
‘and they will call him Immanuel (which means “God with us”)’
(Matthew 1:21)
It is not always easy for parents to find the right name for a new-born.
There are many mistakes made, where a strange name difficult to spell is given,
or a name with the same initial as a close sibling, to take two examples.
As we know, names also have meanings, and sometimes such a meaning is unwelcome.
Jesus received the name ‘Immanuel’, following the prophecy in the book of Isaiah.
But the name seems not to have been used. It was recorded so that we would remember
from the meaning of the name who he is, namely ‘God with us’.
For that is the truly astonishing and wonderful thing about Christmas –
it reminds us that we are not alone, but that God himself has entered human history by becoming one of us.
And from then on, Immanuel will never leave us.
Question for thought:
What comfort do you draw from the name Immanuel applied to Jesus?
Father of All, we pray for the Diocese of Banks and Torres in Vanuatu where they face many challenges
to family life including adultery, family breakdown,
widespread drug and alcohol abuse and gender-based violence.
As members seek to care for those suffering may they share the hope which you alone can give.
We also pray for members in the Diocese of The Murray, for the Families Equip program
and for the way members in Mt Barker record Mia Mia for the visually impaired. Amen.