Num 6:22-27; Ps 66 (67); Gal 4,4-7; Lk 2:16-21

Today there is a thread that links the readings and the different themes of this celebration, at the beginning of a new year: the theme of the ‘name’. In Numbers, God instructs Aaron on how to bless the people: “So they will put my name on the Israelites and I will bless them.” St. Paul, in his letter to the Galatians, reminds us that this holy name of God, which could not be pronounced, can now be invoked, and in the most familiar way: ‘Father’, indeed, even ‘Abba’, ‘Dad’. Finally, Luke reveals to us that the name God assumes, the name imposed on Mary’s son, “Jesus”, means “God saves”. In this son of the Law and son of a woman, God irrevocably turns his face towards us, a human face, and gives us a name to invoke, the only name in which we can find salvation. “For there is no other name under heaven given to men, wherein it is established that we are saved” (Acts 4:12). We do not know what this New Year holds for us, but we can be certain of one thing: it will be a time of salvation for us, because not only can we call upon God’s name, calling him Abba, but because God himself has without hesitation assumed our first name.

Commentary by Comunità di Dumenza

Translation by f. Mark Hargreaves, Prinknash Abbey