Grace and peace to you in the Holy Name of Jesus!
Happy New Year! As we step into this new year, January 1 marks not only the turning of the calendar but also the church’s feast of the Holy Name of Jesus. It is a day to reflect on the name above all names: Jesus, which means “God saves.”
In our times, this truth is more essential than ever. We live in a world that tempts us to place our hope in countless things that ultimately cannot save. We look to financial security and material wealth, only to find they cannot buy us peace. We trust in political leaders or ideologies, yet we remain divided and disheartened. We seek meaning in personal achievements or the approval of others, only to discover how fleeting these can be. Even the latest technologies and advancements promise us a better life but cannot satisfy the deepest longings of the human heart.
Yet amid all these false hopes, we are reminded today: God saves. The name of Jesus is our assurance and anchor. It is in him—and only in him—that we find true purpose, lasting hope, and eternal life.
As we begin this new year, let us also remember that we carry this name upon us. We are Christians, “Christ-ians,” those who belong to Christ and bear his name in our words, actions, and lives. To bear the name of Jesus is both a gift and a calling. Each day—on New Year’s Day and every day of the year—we are called to place our trust not in the ways of this world or the promises of popular wisdom, but in Jesus, who never disappoints.
Let this be our New Year’s resolution: daily to place our trust and hope in the one who most certainly saves. When we rise in the morning, when we face challenges in our work or families, and when we lie down at night, may we remember and call upon his name. For in Jesus, we have the hope that no circumstance, no failure, no sorrow can take away.
As we step into this new year together, I pray that you may know the peace, joy, and confidence that come from trusting in the holy name of Jesus. May his name guide you, comfort you, and strengthen you, today and every day.
In the name of Jesus,
Pastor Daniel
The Rev'd Daniel W. Spigelmyer, Jr. 