by Joan Mitchell, CSJ
Most of us have naming stories. Our parents pick a family name, a popular name, or a saint’s name. As we live, our names become synonymous with ourselves. Sometimes friends, colleagues, and family members rename us with nicknames that say who we are to them.
The birth story Matthew tells about Jesus begins, ends, and centers in names that describe who Jesus is. In its seven short verses the story calls the new child Jesus Christ, child of the Holy Spirit, son, Emmanuel, Jesus.
The story begins, “This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about.” Christ is not a personal or family name. Christ is the Greek translation of the Hebrew word messiah. The word in both languages means the anointed one or king. This story is about the birth of the messiah. The child is conceived by the Holy Spirit, so the child is God’s Son and the son of Mary.
The name Emmanuel means God-with-us. With this name, Matthew introduces Jesus’ mission and a major theme of his gospel. Jesus is the messiah, the king named God-with-us, whom the prophet Isaiah long ago promised God would send.
The name Jesus for the child also foreshadows his mission. The angel tells Joseph what the child shall be called and explains the meaning of the name—“He shall be called Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” Jesus means he saves.
In emphasizing the names Emmanuel and Jesus, Matthew sees beyond Jesus’ birth to the whole significance of his coming among us—his life, death, and resurrection. Jesus is messiah, Son of God, God-with-us, Savior. Matthew’s Christmas story is really more about the risen Jesus than the baby Jesus.
All of us have birth stories. Some of us were long-awaited, only children. Some of us celebrate adoption days in our families rather than birthdays. Some caused difficult births, others harrowing rides to the hospital in snow or hurricane winds.
- What is your birth story? What were your parents hoping for you at your birth? From whom do you get your name?