Matthew 1 (xxi)

There is no name on earth that is more likely to arouse enmity than that of Jesus Christ! This by no means implies that this name cannot be mentioned or heard. Even the most bitter and implacable enemies of this name claim it for themselves and praise it to be the name above all other names and even worse call themselves the Christian Church and the People of God. However, they denigrate us and condemn us as heretics and the worst enemies of God. Why? They do this because we don't want this name to remain a bad name written in dead letters like your name and mine. No, instead, we believe, preach and testify that the person called Jesus Christ is, according to the meaning of His name, the one and only Saviour of this world, Who frees us from our sins and saves us. He is the only High Priest, Who reconciles sinners to God and He is the one and only Lord and King, Who rescues us from every kind of terror and peril.

The complete Luther - "A Meditation for Each Day of the Year" is available as a biligual (English and German) BREVIARY published by Wartburg Verlag Weimar. It can be purchased in English, world-wide from most internet book shops.