Thursday 23 December

Malachi 3:1-4, 23-24; Psalm 25:4-5, 8-9, 10, 14; Luke 1:57-66

What’s in a name?

God instructed Zechariah and Elizabeth to call their son John. John means ‘God is gracious.’ He was gracious in creating and calling John to prepare the way for the Lord. Jesus, too, is a God-given name. It means ‘God saves.’ It tells us why the Son of God became man and dwelt among us. Each of us also has a name. God may not have given it to us but our names are written in the Book of Life and inscribed upon the palms of God’s hands. Now, that’s worth pondering.