3 Jan – Memorial for the Most Holy Name of Jesus
Today’s feast day is a remembrance and celebration of the conferral of the Holy Name of Jesus. A separate votive Mass under this title is found in the revised Roman Missal, and may be used for an annual celebration (e.g. titular of a Church), or as an expression of devotion which is part of the tradition and spirituality of a religious order. It was formerly listed as the Sunday between 1 and 6 January, if one occurs. It was instituted in the 15th century by the bishops of Germany, Scotland, England, and Belgium. It was extended to the universal Church in 1721. There is a commemoration in the Mass of the Octave of St. Stephen if the feast is kept on the second, of St. John on the third, and of the Holy Innocents on the fourth of January.
- Patron Saint Index
1 Jn 2:29-3:6
Jn 1:29-34
Think of the love that the Father has lavished on us, by letting us be called God’s children; and that is what we are.
When it’s time to introduce yourself, who do you say you are?
Are you just a <name>/<age>/<job>/<marital status>/<income> or <highest qualification> in the way that bureaucratic forms request for information? Do we sometimes reduce others to these basic identifiers ahead of who they really are? Might one accord more value to these details than allow the unfolding of knowing someone to inform us better? I have come to realise that in the same way one might appraise others, we could unwittingly subject ourselves to the same constraints of judgement. Were you a ‘top achiever’ last year? What goals do you wish to accomplish in this new year?
It is the new year indeed. So it is timely that we heed this reminder of God’s lavish love showered upon you and I. Some of us ended the year on a real low. Some feel ambivalent about the new year. The world news has been pretty dire and the economy has been harsh on many. Whatever your mindset, I urge you to lay that to rest and approach the throne of our Heavenly Father with an open heart to receive His abundant and generous grace and love.
“Beloved, we are God’s children now;
what we shall be has not yet been revealed.
We do know that when it is revealed we shall be like him,
For we shall see him as he really is.” (1 John 3:2).
God sees you as you really are. No pretences, no masks, no need for make up and preparation. The truth is, nothing we own or achieve or do by our own merit makes us any more prized or beloved in His eyes.
It is easy to forget sometimes that I am more than the sum of my circumstances — accolades, flaws, achievements (or lack of). You are not alone if you feel this way today. Some people do indeed have a harder set or series of challenges thrown at them. Sometimes your corner can feel like the loneliest and darkest spot on earth — I get it. Again, you are not alone.
When I set up my new fitness watch recently, I was able to edit the start-up morning message on my watch screen. I chose to label it “Beloved Daughter”. So now, the first words I see each morning upon awaking are “Good Morning Beloved Daughter!” Little did I realise what a world of difference these two words made to my waking moments. I was not only reminded of my true beloved status of God’s child, I also began to claim my identity firmly as I recognise the Father’s gift of life given to me each new morning that I awake.
”The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:22-23)
It is a new year, so let us take this time to fully grasp the eternal Truth of who God is, who Jesus is, and who you and I are.
(Today’s OXYGEN by Debbie Loo)
Prayer: Father, I adore you and I love you. You are infinitely abundant in love and grace towards me and my iniquities. Help me to continue walking in the light of Your truth and love.
Thanksgiving: Thank you Jesus, for demonstrating to us how you live in your Heavenly Sonship, so that we may have the most perfect example to follow and to place our trust and hope in.
OXYGEN 
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