The Gift of His Name: Reflecting on Luke 2:16-21

Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God - January 1, 2026

As we step into a new year, the Church invites us to contemplate a profound moment: the naming of Jesus. Today's gospel from Luke 2:16-21 brings us back to the manger, where shepherds rush to witness what the angels proclaimed.

The Shepherds' Witness

The shepherds came with haste and found exactly what they had been told: Mary, Joseph, and the infant lying in a manger. Their response is beautiful in its simplicity—they shared what they had heard. They became the first evangelists, spreading the good news of this extraordinary child. When they departed, they went glorifying and praising God for all they had encountered.

Mary's Pondering Heart

While the shepherds spoke openly about their experience, Mary took a different approach. She treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart. On this day when we honor her as the Mother of God, we see her quiet contemplation as a model for our own spiritual lives. Not everything needs to be immediately understood or explained. Some mysteries require time, silence, and the turning over of events in our hearts.

The Name Above All Names

Eight days after his birth, when the child was circumcised according to Jewish law, he was given the name Jesus—the name the angel had announced to Mary before his conception. This wasn't just a label; it was a mission statement. Jesus means "the Lord saves," and in that simple act of naming, the entire purpose of the Incarnation was proclaimed.

Beginning the Year with Jesus

What better way to start a new year than with the name of Jesus? While the world makes resolutions and sets goals, we are reminded that our hope, our salvation, and our peace rest in this child born in Bethlehem. Like the shepherds, we are called to share what we have experienced. Like Mary, we are invited to ponder deeply the mysteries of faith.

As we move forward into this year, may the name of Jesus be our compass, our strength, and our song of praise. May we, like those first witnesses, glorify and praise God for all we have heard and seen.

The shepherds left the manger changed. May we leave this first day of the year transformed by the simple yet profound truth: God has come to dwell among us, and his name is Jesus.