In The Lord's Year 2012

This day that the rest of the world calls New Year's Day is also the Eighth Day of Christmas (cue Maids a-Milking).  On this day, the eighth day of the human life of God's Son, his parents took Him to the Temple to be circumcised and to be named Jesus, the name the angel commanded them to give Him before He had been conceived (Luke 2:21).

Although this important occasion in the life and ministry of Jesus is mostly obscured by other celebrations, resolutions, parades, and football games, there is something wondrous about this New Year's Day being Jesus' Name Day, something interesting about it falling on a Sunday, the Lord's Day, this year.

I'd like to suggest that this presents an opportunity to forget about silly resolutions and go with something completely different:  as Jesus received His Name on this day, and as we begin the year 2012 with His Name-Day on this Lord's Day, let us resolve to spend the year a little old-school and remember that the years were once designated with the initials A.D., meaning in the Lord's year.  How about a resolution that 2012 will be The Lord's Year in everything?  In all that we say or do, wherever we go and wherever we are, let this be The Lord's Year.  Let all our waking and sleeping, all our conversation, every day and night and week and month all be done with the knowledge that this is The Lord's Year 2012.

And let's see what the Lord does for us in this Year of His.