New Year’s Day always coincides with the Feast of the Holy Name in Christendom. On the 8th day Jesus was circumcised and given his name as is the custom and commandment in Judaism.
Why Jews are commanded to circumcise their children on the eighth day is a mystery and matter of debate. Though I prefer the idea that it was given that the eighth day be chosen so all infants could know they joy of the blessed sabbath day in one of the first seven days of their lives to be one without suffering.
The eighth day is also the day of new creation. There were eight members of Noah’s family in the ark. The Feast of Pentecost occurs on the 8th day after the 7 weeks of the spring harvest. Jesus was raised on the eighth day.
New creation cannot happen without the struggle and suffering of the old. Suffering is necessary. Blood, sweat, and tears are a part of the journey and the faith.
It is a new year. 2023 is a new creation. We can be a part of the new creation. But something old must also always die and/or be left behind. There can be no new without the dying of the old.
We welcome this new year. We embrace all the new it will bring. We will have to accept the struggle and suffering it will also demand. We accept the dying.
As one of my favorite spiritual guides Frederick Buechner — who died last year — once wrote, “Here is the world. Beautiful and terrible things will happen. Don’t be afraid.”
