As the new year begins on 1st January, and many people are recovering from New Year’s Eve celebrations, the Church invites us to reflect on a beautiful feast: the Holy Name of Jesus. This feast takes place eight days after Christmas, aligning with the Jewish tradition when a male child would be named and circumcised. The Gospel of Luke tells us that Mary and Joseph took Jesus to the Temple in Jerusalem for this important ceremony.

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The name "Jesus" carries deep significance. In the Gospel of Matthew, an angel visits Joseph and tells him that Mary will give birth to a child, and he is to name him Jesus because "he will save his people from their sins." The name "Jesus" literally means salvation — in Hebrew, it is Yah’shua (from which the name Joshua comes), meaning "God saves." In Greek, this translates to "Jesus."

Christianity, at its core, is about salvation, but this idea can be understood in three key ways:

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The Beginning of Faith:

Salvation starts with the decision to believe, leading to baptism and becoming part of Christ's Body, the Church.

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Future Fulfilment:

Salvation will be fully realised when Christ returns in glory, bringing final judgment and renewal.

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The Present Journey:

Between these two moments, salvation is happening now, in our everyday lives. Jesus came so that we might "have life and have it to the full." Salvation is not just something in the past or future; it is a present reality.

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