Sunday, April 21, 2024

FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER

(Acts 4:8-12; I John 3:1-2; John 10:11-18)

As always, today’s mass readings are interesting. I say “always” because they are the “word of God” that instructs, comforts, and challenges us. All three readings have to do with names. In the reading from the Acts of the Apostles Peter says that the sick man was healed “in the name of Jesus of Nazareth.” The gospel reports that Jesus gives himself the name of “Good Shepherd.” In the second reading the priest John calls himself and the community he tends “sons of God.” It is worth investigating the relevance of these names to our lives today.

In the Bible a name is supposed to reveal a person’s essence. Abraham, we remember from a reading a few Sundays ago, means “father of many nations.” Eventually largely through Jesus Christ Abraham has become the spiritual patriarch of people in all parts of the world. It is apt that the name of the Son of God is “Jesus”, derived from “Joshua” which means “savior”. Jesus saves the world from its sins.

However, the disciples recognize in Jesus someone more than a savior. They treat the name “Jesus” with the respect that Jews reserve for God. We remember how God revealed his name to Moses at the burning bush as “I am who I am.” According to medieval theologians, this name indicates that God is the source of all being. Rabbis for almost two thousand years have said that God’s name is so sacred that it should not be spoken with the human voice. For this reason Jews to this day replace the name in the Bible with something more general like “the Lord.”

In the New Testament Saint Paul says that “at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven, on earth, and under the earth” (Phil 2:10). This phrase indicates that from only a few years after the crucifixion, Christians considered him to be of the same stature as God. The fact that the first Christians baptized in the name of Jesus also indicates its transcendent importance.

Calling on the name of Jesus, the apostles performed feats like healing the paralytic in today's reading. It has been noted that the only time in the entire New Testament the name “Jesus” is used without any other appellation occurs at the crucifixion in the Gospel of Luke. We all remember how the so-called “good thief” says to the Lord: “Jesus, remember me when you come to establish your Kingdom.” And he receives perhaps the most reassuring response in all history: “I assure you that today you will be with me in paradise.”

In the gospel Jesus gives himself another name, the “Good Shepherd.” This name suggests that Jesus would give his life to save his people from the marauders. Of course, he did exactly this.

In the second reading, the priest John proposes a name for his readers. He says, “My brothers, we are now children of God…” We should consider ourselves parts of this family. We are made “children of God” by being baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Spirit. Like other children of God, we are destined to be like our older brother, Jesus. Like him, we should not be reluctant to ask God for help: Father, Son, or Holy Spirit.

We may have difficulty believing. This age of self-assertion blinds many to the reality of God. We must call on God to help us continue believing in Him as the Creator who loves us. We may also be overwhelmed with worries about sick family members or other problems. Likewise, we have to call God by name. Be it “Father”, “Jesus”, or “Holy Spirit” he is always ready to attend to our prayers.