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.

Monday, December 23, 2019

Monday of the Fourth Week of Advent

(Malachi 3:1-4.23-24; Luke 1:57-66)

Unlike Jesus’ name, the gospel writers place no significance in the name “John.”  But there are two significant details in today’s gospel story of Jesus’ forerunner’s name.  First, John’s father Zechariah shows obeisance to the Lord here.  Before, he doubted the angel’s word that he and Isabel would conceive.  Now he names the child “John” as Gabriel instructed.  Second, Zechariah and Isabel independently agree that their child be called “John.” Since no one in their family has that name, the prompt agreement is extraordinary.

The prophecy from Malachi, today’s first reading, tells the role John is to play within the gospel.  He will go before the Lord Jesus, preparing the people for his message.  Malachi calls the forerunner “Elijah,” who called down fire from heaven.  John preached fire and brimstone.  Although he, like Jesus, spoke of the coming of the kingdom, his message was colored with threats.  Jesus largely preached the kingdom of God’s mercy.

Some fret over names.  They don’t want to be called ugly or stupid.  They want to be known as intelligent, sexy, and cool.  Let us strive to be named, like John, “forerunners of the Lord.”  Let us prepare the world for his coming withacts of mercy and kindness.   

Thursday, April 25, 2019

Thursday within the Octave of Easter

(Acts 3:11-26; Luke 24:35-48)

 “What’s in a name?” Juliet asks, “that which we call a rose by any other word would smell as sweet.”  She will learn that a name contains more than commonly imagined.  Names identify people both as individuals and as members of an association.  Invoking a name in a situation can bring the power of the person or association to bear on it.  In today’s first reading Peter tells the Jews that the paralytic was healed by faith in the name of Jesus. 

Peter and John have just healed the man begging near the Temple gate. Now Peter launches into one of the sermons in Acts that is considered paradigmatic of Christian preaching.  In other words, all Christian preachers should not only imitate its conviction but also its claims.  Peter has no reservations that Jesus’ death and resurrection are the source of new life.  People have only to repent of their sins and call upon his name to inherit eternal life.

More and more people today are searching for their identities in their DNA. They want to know who they are by associating themselves with particular real estates.  Of course, it is interesting but it is hardly conclusive and holds little prospect for the future.  We are far better off to associate ourselves with the name of our Redeemer.  In Jesus we are adopted daughters and sons of God.  He bestows on us the destiny of eternal life.  Like the paralytic in his name we are made whole.

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Wednesday of the Seventh Week of Easter

(Acts 20:28-38; John 17:11b-19)

In the computer world we protect information with a password.  One should create passwords that would be difficult to guess and should take care never to reveal them.  As many people have unfortunately learned, failing to give passwords proper regard may result in swindle.  Today’s gospel indicates that a name in biblical times today has similar import to a password today. 

Jesus tells his Father that he has protected his disciples in the Father’s name.  He means that he has called upon the Father by name to keep them safe.  Jesus will also use his Father’s name, “I AM,” to give his disciples safe passage when the Roman garrison comes to arrest him in the garden.  “I AM” is a simplified translation of the Tetragrammaton or four consonants expressing the name for Himself that God revealed to Moses in the book of Exodus.  In John’s gospel Jesus uses it repeatedly to express his identity with the Father.

We should use God’s name frequently but reverently.  That is, we should call upon God as “Father” or “Lord” to ask His assistance.  When we feel tempted to think or do something malicious, calling upon God by name will assure the help we need.

Homilette for Wednesday, January 3

The Feast of the Most Holy Name of Jesus (Luke 2)

“What’s in a name?” an infatuated Juliet asks the handsome Romeo. At first, the two mistakenly believe very little substance resides in a name. But they come to learn there is really much at stake. For their love to mature they must accept who they are and make necessary sacrifices to overcome the difficulties their identities create.

We reserve much import for the name “Jesus.” I remember being admonished as a boy of six or seven for suggesting that our family name its new dog “Jesus.” In fact, however, it was a popular name for men in biblical times as it is today in Hispanic cultures today. “Jesus” means “Yahweh saves.” Certainly, it is an apt name for the Christ who as God’s agent saves us humans from our folly. He does this basically in two ways: by imparting wisdom through his teachings and by bestowing grace through his death and resurrection to practice what we have learned. Because of Jesus we live in freedom and look forward to heaven.

But providing the literal meaning of a name hardly tells enough about it. It certainly does not reveal why the name “Jesus” is “most holy” as we proclaim on this feast day. For this we must look deeper. Perhaps a telling use of the name late in Luke’s gospel will satisfy our need to know more about the name “Jesus.” Only one person in the four gospels dares to call Jesus by his name alone, without any titles or formalities. This person is not his mother or one of his disciples. It is the so-called good thief. On the cross he calls out to the Lord, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom” (Luke 23:42). The direct appeal, of course, brings the thief no reprimand. Quite the contrary, Jesus seems to award his boldness. “This day,” the Lord tells the criminal, “you will be with me in Paradise.”

The name “Jesus” is most holy because when we call it out in faith, God listens. We can be dying sinners, but as long as we repentantly ask Jesus’ mercy, we can depend upon it. To be sure, it is not a magic formula. But it is the last, best hope of a contrite heart.