Monday, January 3, 2022

 (Optional) Feast of the Most Holy Name of Jesus

(I John 3:22-4:6; Matthew 4:12-17.23-26)

Society no longer guards the names of people.  Seventy years ago, only children were called by their first names in public.  The names of adults were considered personal, for the exclusive use of family and friends.  Now attendants regularly call patrons by their first name.  Older people may feel disrespected, but one should not be shy about using the holy name of Jesus.

In all the gospels only one person addresses Jesus only by name without any title.  The so-called good thief crucified at Jesus’ side calls to him: “’Jesus, remember me…’”  Far from taking offense, Jesus assures his compatriot that he will soon be with him in Paradise.  In today’s first reading, John, the presbyter, tells his readers that they must believe in Jesus’ name.  He means that recognizing his power to save, they should pray to him.  Indeed, the name “Jesus” means “God saves.”

When we find ourselves in difficulty, we should call Jesus by name.  He has promised to come to us.  The coming will take place in various ways until we see him in his glorified flesh at the end of time.  We can count on him to save us from distress.

Monday, January 5, 2015

Memorial of Saint John Neumann, bishop

(I John 3:22-4:6; Matthew 4:12-17.23-25)

A couple of years ago a Harvard professor claimed to have evidence that Jesus was married.  She produced a parchment with writing in Coptic in which JesJesus' wifeus refers to his wife.  By itself the document could not have disproved the Christian belief that Jesus was as he indicates, “a eunuch for the sake of the kingdom” (Matthew 19:12).  But it certainly could have sown doubt in believers that what the Church has been preaching since the beginning was not true.  Upon investigation, however, the parchment has been shown to be a forgery.  In the first reading today John the Elder calls for a similar kind of investigation regarding the claims of others about Christ and his community.  He tells his followers that they must “test the spirits to see whether they belong to God.”

Throughout Christian history the Church has been plagued by dissension and fragmentation.  Today’s reading tells us that it took place in the first century as well.  The writer, who represents orthodox Christianity, condemns the group that has withdrawn from his community.  He tells his readers that they can test the invalidity of the group essentially by their fruits.  Since they do not believe that the Messiah came in the flesh according to the way John has been teaching, they are tragically wrong.

Extravagant claims are constantly levered about Jesus.  Ten years ago, for example, people were taken up with Dan Brown’s allegation that Jesus and Mary Magdalene were lovers.  We need be very wary of such ideas by testing them.  In the end we will probably be convinced that the four canonical gospels say all that there is important to know about Jesus.  They do differ among themselves in minor details, but the core teaching is consistent.  We can put our trust in their claim that he died and rose that we might have eternal life.