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.
