Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
The Christmas season, celebrating the Self-revelation of God through Jesus, comes to an end with the feast of the Baptism of Our Lord. Christmas is the feast of God’s Self-revelation to the Jews, and Epiphany celebrates God’s Self-revelation to the Gentiles. It is the great event celebrated by the Eastern Churches on the feast of Epiphany because it is the occasion of the first public revelation of all the Three Persons in the Holy Trinity, and the official revelation of Jesus as the Son of God to the world by God the Father.
Speaking of baptism, when we get baptised, we do so in the name of the “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” More precisely, when we do something “in the name of Someone” we do it on his or her behalf. In short, we baptise on behalf of God – in God’s name.
There is also another understanding of “in the name of”. As well as being on behalf of, “name” in the scriptural world is often associated with “nature”. We are all baptised, immersed, into the nature of Christ. The gradual hymn Andrew chose at Holy Cross for his Sunday (I believe the Holy Spirit helps him choose it!) is “I have called you by your name,” (one of my favourites!). As we sing it, you are invited to reflect your identity given at your baptism together with others. May we be found worthy of our calling.
In Christ, Yukiko
