The Holy Name of Jesus

Here is a sermon of mine for the feast of the Holy Name (aka the Circumcision of Christ) from when it fell on a Sunday, back in 2006.

Merry Christmas (today concludes the octave) and Happy Circumcision everyone! Today was historically known as the feast of the Circumcision of Christ. In the first draft of this message, I opened a foreword that included a few circumcision jokes, but after some consideration, I thought that might be a bit of a stretch, so I cut that part off.

Instead, let us begin with some of the history and meaning of the practice. As Jewish boys were circumcised on the eighth day after birth, and today is the eighth day after Christmas Day, or the feast of the Nativity, today we commemorate the circumcision of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is called the feast of the Holy Name of Jesus in the 1979 Prayer Book because the naming of the child was an important part of the ceremony. Beginning with the new liturgical kalendar promulgated in 1969, our Roman Catholic brethren observe this day as the Solemnity of Mary, the Theotokos, or “Mother of God.”

Remember that the Bible was first written in a very different social context. It was a context in which the large, extended family defined the world of a given individual. The larger family—the tribe, or clan—was a man or woman’s primary identity. That dictated where they would live, how they would work, and whom they might marry.

Often, people would bear some mark indicating that tribal family identity. A nation in the ancient world was largely a network of such families, as the nation of Israel comprised twelve tribes named for Jacob’s twelve sons. Unifying each family was the bond of covenant, the wider culture’s idea of what constituted human relations, rights, duties, and loyalties.

Circumcision was practiced by different cultures in the ancient world. Jews and Arabs practice it as a part of their religious tradition, which is traced back to Abraham, who was instructed to use it as a sign of the covenant which would identity and shape the great family that God would form out of his descendants. Circumcision was practiced by Israel as a sign of God’s covenant with Abraham. St. Paul makes clear that through Jesus, we become adopted children in God’s great tribal family and thereby heirs of the covenant promises that were first given to Abraham. We are "grafted onto the tree," as Paul put it, through our baptism, which thoroughly unites us to Jesus Christ. In the book of Acts, the early Church came to that realization. Circumcision was no longer required of converts because Jesus Christ himself already fulfilled all our obligations under the law in his own flesh.

If the infant Jesus could have been asked, “Why is this being done, if you are perfect already as God’s only-begotten Son?” as he was similarly asked before being baptized by John in the river Jordan, Jesus might also have responded on that occasion, “Let it be done, for it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.”

In the traditional text of the Great Litany, one of the petitions is: “By the mystery of thy holy Incarnation; by the thy holy Nativity and Circumcision; by thy Baptism, Fasting, and Temptation, Good Lord deliver us.” In the 1979 edition of the Prayer Book, a more interpretive petition is used: “By the mystery of thy holy Incarnation; by the thy holy Nativity and submission to the Law; by thy Baptism, Fasting, and Temptation, Good Lord deliver us.” Jesus fulfilled the Law of Moses on our behalf—something we could never do.

Remember that the theme of identity and the naming of the child was a key feature of the rite of circumcision in Jewish practice. The choice of a name can be a most powerful gift. Certainly, Madison Avenue has learned the power of a name. And most of us come to understand that power as children just as well as any advertising firm. We can see the reaction on the faces of children when a famous or powerful name is dropped in a conversation. Do you know the power of a name?

One time, I was talking with my fourth grade class about the unlimited power of God. I gave the example that God could turn this whole school building into Chuck E. Cheeses’ if he wanted to. You should have seen how big their eyes got when I mentioned that name. Your local used car salesman also knows the power of a name. Sometimes it is the main selling point. “But you have to remember, this is a . . . Ford, Honda, or BMW, etc..” If that doesn’t work, he might accidentally mention the name of some famous person who was the previous owner.

A name says a lot about someone. Most names mean something. Learning a name is part of getting to know someone. My name Timothy is a Greek name meaning “honoring God.” I try to live by the implication of that name.

All those who are familiar with Pilgrim’s Progress have no trouble remembering that the pilgrim’s name throughout the book is “Christian.” However, many people don’t remember his original name, which is stated briefly in the allegory. In that scene, the pilgrim is conversing with a porter who says, “What is your name?” The pilgrim responds, “My name is now Christian, but my name at the first was Graceless.” Of course, the same could be said about all of us who have been baptized in the name of the Trinity and are now called Christian. Pilgrim’s Progress is really a story about all of us. We all started out named “Graceless.” Do you know the power of a name?

In the church, we use names that come from being a part of God’s family. Many Christians call each other “brother” and “sister,” especially in religious orders. Abbesses are called “Mother” because they model for us the Virgin Mary, who was given to the Christian community as Mother by Jesus himself. The Church herself is called "the Bride of Christ" and "the Body of Christ." We can understand why we call our priests and bishops “Father.” It is because they fulfill the role of Christ in our communities, and Christ is the perfect image of the Father.

Moses asked God for his Name . . . “Who shall I say has sent me?” The Lord answered “I AM what I AM.” This was a simple kind of answer, but also a revelation of the divine name YHWH—the root word in Hebrew for "being" or "existence." The Lord was telling his people, "I am the living God, I am the God who exists. I am not like the idols of the nations—gods of clay and stone. I am the one who made heaven and earth—all that there is." Some scholars think it could be hifil causative form. That is, “I cause things to be; I am the Creator.”

Do you know the power of a name? The Name of God was treated with the utmost reverence in the Jewish faith. Reverence for God’s name is the third of the Ten Commandments. “Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vein.” In order to fulfill that commandment, Jews eventually decided not to speak God’s name at all.

I remember once in seminary we took a field trip to Chicago to see the Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit. It was striking to look at these manuscripts which were a part of the library of a Jewish sect from shortly before the time of Christ’s birth. I noticed, looking at the pages, that the Name of God was written in a different manner—it was above the text. The Name of God was written each time in much larger type and, unlike the rest of the Hebrew text, it was written in the older pre-Phonecian alphabet. When it was read aloud, the reader would not pronounce that name when he came to it. Instead, the reader was instructed to substituted the word Adonai ("Lord") or Hashem ("the Name"). Do you know the power of a name?

That was the reverence of our Jewish forebears for the sacred name of God. The name of Jesus was given to Mary and Joseph by word of the angel Gabriel. The name “Jesus” has a meaning as well; it means “YHWH is salvation.” Jesus is the Greek form of the name. If you’ve seen the Passion of the Christ, you may have noticed the disciples calling Jesus “Yeshua” in the native language. In Jesus’ day, they spoke Aramaic, which was a colloquial version of Hebrew. As you may have guessed, Yeshua is the same as the Hebrew name Joshua. We said before that a name tells us a great deal about a person.

Consider for a moment the parallels between Jesus and Joshua of the Old Testament. Joshua was the successor to Moses—the one to whom Moses entrusted the care of God’s people. Joshua led them through the Jordan river (it’s no accident that Jesus was baptized there) and into the Promised Land (the kingdom of God). It is at the precious name of Jesus that “every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that he is Lord” at the last judgment. Jesus is a name of hope and power. It is a name we can depend upon.

While God’s wisdom and love are spread abroad, there is grace and salvation in none other than this holy child—Jesus, Son of God, Son of Mary. Do you know the power of a name? Consider the holy Name of Jesus. Do you know the power of Jesus’ name in your own life?

In the Acts of the Apostles 4:12 we read, “There is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” If we have put all our hope in Jesus, we have put it in the right place, for “YHWH is salvation.”

Blessed Thomas Becket, pray for us

On Monday we had our diocesan college Mass and Christmas party, hosted by the UTA Canterbury House. Special thanks to Fr Chad Nusbaum for saying Mass and to Fr Chuck Hough for a wonderful sermon on the saint of the day, Archbishop Thomas Becket of Canterbury. Thank you also to Honor Mary for the delicious goodies.

O God, our strength and our salvation, you called your servant Thomas Becket to be a shepherd of your people and a defender of your Church: Keep your household from all evil and raise up among us faithful pastors and leaders who are wise in the ways of the Gospel; through Jesus Christ the shepherd of our souls, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Pass The Bubbly Please

Ah. The New Year is upon us - where did the time go? One more reason to celebrate with friends and loved ones, and one more reason to dress up and look fabulous. I'm sure you have all found your dresses already but I just passed by the store window of BCBG the other day. BCBG has always attracted me, there is something simple and ethereal about their dresses, and their cutting (for me at least, is superb).

Their dresses make you feel almost old hollywood glam or simply modern chic. I know they're rather simple, definitely something you've seen before, but talk about excellent draping! I don't know, there's something about them that makes me fall in love.

Love the velvet bodice of this dress!

This dress is actually much more beautiful in person.

Aughhh...I need to get this - look at that sleeve detail!

So simple, so lovely (especially the colour). Hm, I will advise you not to wear a headband that the model demonstrates...

Ok, kind of generic I know, princess cut blah blah blah. But the material! And a colour that would look great on all skin tones.

What are you doing for New Year's? &equally important, what will you be wearing?

Good Golly Boots!

I found (and purchased) two pairs of boots this weekend.

Yes, two.

They are comfortable ... and I love, love, love them.

Steve Madden - Legion


INC Brook Riding Boot - mine are chocolate brown and aren't so shiny.


Oh sales how I love thee.

A Green Christmas Tree

It's difficult to think about Christmas without the Tree. The lights, the ornaments, the tree skirt, the gifts neatly wrapped and stashed beneath all bring us joy. Whether you are organized enough to get your tree the weekend after Thanksgiving or too busy until the week before Christmas, it's a ritual with warm and happy memories.

In spite of those joyful emotions it is increasingly difficult, maybe Scrooge-like, not to consider what a greener kind of Christmas tree would be. Greener might mean a live tree transported with its roots intact or a pesticide-free tree. Greener might mean strung with solar powered LED lights or being reduced to mulch for park trails.

Perhaps you are even more inventive in your approach to the New Green Tree? Suppose you want to use the 3 Rs and do it with style. Here are some artistic inspirations above and below that reduce, re-use, and recycle!

Paul Deakin, a student at the University of Southampton in England, created this tree with 1,050 beer bottles.

The ladder tree via Apartment Therapy via MetaFilter via MeCha.

More details on the 2-D Christmas tree appear in the The Style Files, a daily blog by Danielle de Lange, based in the Netherlands.

Happy Christmas to all!

Merry Christmas To All, and To All A Goodnight

Merry Christmas everyone! We hope you had a wonderful evening and a beautiful day! Were in good company with family and friends, wrapped up warm - or dressed downright cool! - with good food, wherever you are!

This spread instantly made me want to layer up with colours and scarves - I actually decided that I had too much black in my closet! Is that even possible? Love the fresh faces and the braided hair. What wonderful winter inspiration - take the look of fall and bring with you into winter, enough of the dull greys and the generic black. I can't believe I just said that.







Image source: Elle Italy by David Burton

Vintage Christmas Box

'Twas once upon a Christmas time someone thoughtful, and with a keen eye for design, selected this holiday box. It had been filled with Eaton-Hurleut writing paper. The beautiful box was saved for many years and changed keepers several times. I'm not sure if I knew exactly what it contained when I first saw it. But, it didn't matter. It was the box itself as a decorated object that captured my fancy as a young admirer.

Several years ago, this treasured box was given to me in a casual cleaning of basement shelves. I don't think anyone else in the family had any interest in it or appreciated the pretty botanical print adhered to its top and sides. By then, it's contents had probably changed several times before storing a handful of small brass bells, jingling loosely.

I was delighted to hear the jingly box among the Christmas things unpacked this year. I still marvel at the beautifully rendered holly leaves and berries thoughtfully laid out and wrapped with delicate bows. It is a simple pleasure for me to behold the vintage box and a joyful reminder of the power of beautiful things in our lives, no matter how small.

With very best wishes for a joyous and beautiful holiday season.

Happy Christmukkah!

Something to drool over on this special day....Yes, I'm in love with red pumps! But just to add some variety, these are not Louboutins (remember the Turkey day pumps?), but from Stuart Weitzman. Dear Santa.....

Happy Christmukkah everyone!

Psst! I heard Bloomies is having a big sale on the 26th!

Image Source: Bloomies

Scented

I indulge in perfume. I tend to put too much on and think nothing of it. I'm a dedicated and committed wearer of four scents, all of which are used in a rotational manner, depending on mood, weather, clothes and/or occasion. They are much more than just the fantastic four.

My first ever - must wear all the time - is this discontinued line of Ines De La Fressange. After all, she was Lagerfeld's muse.


I found this a couple of years ago - extremely fitting for Spring or Fall. Roger & Gallet Bouquet Imperial


Something fresh after a hot shower, or light for a summer day I wear Baby Bench. What's that? Yes, a perfume for babies. Not really a perfume actually, scented water? I have no idea, but it smells damn good AND it's made in the Philippines! Subtle and soft.


And last, but certainly not least, Marc Jacobs' Daisy. Divine. Long lasting, beautiful!


What's your scent?

Ctrl BG: A Shortcut to Financial News 12/21

After MUCH drama, the fall of the auto industry in the US has finally been avoided- at least temporarily anyway. In the end, Bush signed over $17.4 to Chrysler and GM on Friday in return for non voting warrants and more oversight on executive pay etc. In the end, they made a full circle and the money will be coming from the TARP fund, which brings up the really intriguing question of whether the government has opened the pandora box and now other industries will be lining up to get a share of the rest of the TARP fund. Paulson has already asked Congress to release the rest of the $350 billion TARP fund early, when just a few days ago he said that it will not be necessary. Just when we thought we figured out how the TARP is going to work, they change their minds. This does not bode well for the government, because it makes them look like they have no idea what they're doing. Maybe they don't! On the other hand, the wider purpose of TARP is to support the financial market stability, and I daresay, it will probably not be very stable if the auto industry went bankrupt!

On the sidelines, the Madoff scandal continues to unfold, revealing many influential individuals exposed to this fraud. The S&P cut the rating of 11 US and EU banks, including Bank of America, Barclays Bank, Citibank, Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank, Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase Bank, Morgan Stanley, Royal Bank of Scotland, UBS and Wells Fargo Bank. I guess if ratings must be cut, at least there is safety in numbers. What are you going to do when everyone goes down?

Outside of the States, it looks like the land of chocolate and waffles is not doing very well. Belgium's attempt to bailout Fortis got frozen as Prime Minister Yves Leterme tendered his resignation after having reportedly politically meddling to sway a court ruling. Apparently this is the third time their government collapsed. I had no idea.

Forcing Paperwhites

After a busy week away from this address, it's good to be back and getting ready for the holiday season. The first week of December I started forcing several narcissus bulbs. In a re-purposed glass ice bucket, partly filled with black polished stones, three bulbs were nestled snugly to fit. The bucket was filled with water to the top of the stones and the very bottom of the bulbs. The bucket was stashed in the unheated storage room. A small amount of water was added every day to keep the water level just reaching the bottom of the bulbs.

Within four days of cool, dark isolation, roots started to appear. The stalks started to grow and by day six the ice bucket, now, holiday planter was brought upstairs into the natural light. Each day the bulbs have grown above and below the water line. It's a fascinating process, and one I have marveled over each year at this time.

With luck, the fragrant flowers will open by Christmas, adding their beautiful simplicity to this address. When they start growing taller and seem ready to tip, I'll add a small stake and tie them together with a ribbon. A gardening friend recommends adding vodka to the water to slow the growth in height and keep them standing straighter. Vodka apparently affects plants and mammals differently.

Try forcing paperwhites as a gift to yourself or a friend. Bulbs make good gifts too, if you're still looking for a perfect gift for the perfect friend who has everything!

The Girl With The Short Hair

Last year I went from that was down below the middle of my back, to a really bad short japanese-boy-rockstar cut. My hair grows fast so while I was mortified & stuck with pinning it back and trying to tie it up in all sorts of ways, with ribbons and clips, it eventually grew back to past my shoulders by September of this year. Being stuck with thick, thick hair I got fed up and went to go get it cut again into a straight across, above the shoulders/longish bob.

Then, I went home and chopped it all off to have it super short in the back, with an A-line cut in the front. Kind of like Victoria Beckham, but less extreme and shorter. How does it feel? Totally awesome. Here are some cuties that might inspire you to cut it short.




The best part is that you figure out fun ways to do your hair, it's just easier to take of! Best part? If you can work the curling iron and get a bunch of curls, it's completely adorable. It definitely becomes a deciding factor on how you style your outfits.

What are your thoughts on girls with short hair?

As for my next hair cut? I'm definitely going to go for a Shannyn Sossamon look.


Image Source: Garance Dore

Chastity rings

This English girl was banned from wearing her chastity ring in school. She is a fan of the Jonas Brothers, who have helped popularize the jewelry. The reported reason for the prohibition was that it did not comply with the dress code, and that the ring "would be extremely dangerous in PE, technology or science lessons." Extremely dangerous? Perhaps telling is that the head of school, who made that statement, does not wear a wedding band (another kind of chastity ring) herself. Then she would realize that even if it does not comply with the dress code, it is not extremely dangerous.

You can read the article here.

Little Frivolous Somethings

When I was a kid, Christmas was about finally getting that one toy I've wanted all year long. When I grew older, it was about finally getting that one big fashion item that I've been craving for since all season. Now that I'm a bit older and (hopefully) wiser, I'm beginning to think that maybe that perfect Christmas gift is not about getting that big ticket item, but about getting that little frivolous something that will make you smile. Because really, I'd like to be present when a big ticket item is bought for me- just in case anything goes wrong. Besides, you'd be really broke if you bought something big for everyone you loved!

When I say frivolous, I do not mean something completely useless. It has got to be something that I would actually use, that little something that I've been meaning/wanting to buy but have put it on the backlog because there are more practical things on my list (like toothpaste, vacuum cleaners and Tweezerman tweezers- though if all else fails, these would not be a bad idea. At least they're useful!). Here are a few things on my backlog:
Essie nail varnish set. I am a HUGE fan of professional nail varnish (they go on SO much smoother and chips less!), Essie in particular. One can never have too much nail varnish, because they come in so many different colors and your favourite ones will start to dry out and coagulate after a while. I am especially loving this little gift set from Essie, because it encompasses all the classic colors one MUST have in their repertoire. They are also in delightfully small bottles that are actually more easy to carry and well, just the right size. I have personally never finished a bottle of nail varnish. Plus, did I mention that they are only $15 (they are usually $6-7 a bottle)!

The next thing on my list, are Shu Uemura fake lashes. Frivolous? Yes, for $20, they can only be used for one night. But fun? Definitely! I'd love to know what it feels like to have ridiculously long and perfect lashes for one night. This would also be the perfect time to give them out, because what better time is there to try fake lashes then New Years Eve? Speaking of New Years Eve, I have a vision. A vision of myself in a simple dress (of undecided color as of now) with a low side bun accessorized with this fabulous piece of purple feather (right). And if that plan should go awry, I can be masculine chic, in this adorable hat (left). I can even use this for Halloween next year! Spending $18 on literally a piece of feather is definitely not practical, but it will definitely draw a smile from me :)
Other random cute things on my list is a munny and a lego Ipod speaker. I don't really need ipod speakers, but I definitely wouldn't mind one that is so small and cute! And actually, I have a Munny. But mine didn't come out as I would like it to, so I'd love a second chance to decorate a Munny (including markers and other decorating materials would also be a nice touch).
Not exactly "little" , but I've always been very intrigued with lomography. I love taking pictures and I'd love to try out the different effects of lomography. The camera is not too expensive at $50 (compared to real digital cameras anyway), but if you factor in film and developing etc, it is actually a very expensive random hobby. Like those polaroids back in the days!

The purple frame (left) is not just a random piece of art. It is a mini DNA portrait! HG and I saw it on CNBC's list of weird gift ideas and our inner nerds are awaken. You really cannot get more personalized than a picture of your own DNA composition. And for someone to go to the effort of collecting your DNA sample and then go have it made.... that's a LOT of effort.

Then there are classes. Cooking classes, dancing classes, it would just be FUN to take a random class with friends even though you will never be able to replicate that 5 layer chocolate cake you just made at home. My friends just did a Christmas Cupcake decorating class, and I am SO jealous, because it looked so much fun. I wish I was there! Sur la Table offers cooking classes for $69 and I'm sure there are lots more similar places that I don't know of yet. Whatever you want to learn, there will be a class for it somewhere!

And last on my list is a really cute and big stuff toy. Something cute so it'll look good on my bed and something big and cushiony so I can lean on it while I read. I know, I am a kid at heart :P 8 more days til Christmas!!!

Image Source: Essie, Sephora, DNA 11 and Urban Outfitters

Gaudete Sunday

Here are some photos, courtesy of Brian Pickard.

And (since people kept asking) no, I did not make the vestments, just the altar frontal.

Oh boy, oh boy

How do you like your boy to look? Mine is the usual jeans and t-shirt kinda guy, but I like a little styled grunge to be honest!

A little flannel can go a long way. Too much flannel can be tacky and "OH LOOK I AM A HIPSTER."

Perhaps a little too trendy with the scarf and all - but nonetheless a rather eye-pleasing outfit! I love the checkered shirt.

I love this. I love the coat. He looks so... historical!

Casual, cute, playful! Lego belt!


Umm...yes, hello and hello.

Boys with style are big in my book - a little character like a neck scarf or a sharp looking jacket can make all the difference. Just enough scruff balanced out by the perfect amount of tidiness. And of course, excellent manners. Chivalry is not dead and of course style for men is alive as ever. Just a few things that make me sigh.

So tell me, how you would you like your man to dress?


All photos by The Sartorialist, which I love and adore. Who doesn't?