Throughout the Gospels, he is known by many titles: Son of God,
Son of Man, Son of David. He is called Christ, Master, Lord, Logos, Alpha and
Omega. Today in the Gospel, he is called by John the Baptist, the “Lamb of God”.
Titles from the Old Testament are also rightly ascribed to
him: he is the “seed of the woman” from Genesis, the “Passover lamb” from
Exodus, the “priest, the altar, and the sacrifice” from Leviticus, the “captain
of our salvation” from Joshua, “”Our judge & lawgiver” from judges.
Yet, today, the Church celebrates the feast of the “name
above all other names”, the name delivered to Mary by the angel, the name,
Jesus. The name Jesus is found over 1000 times in the New Testament, so many
times, perhaps, so we know to call upon him often.
We speak his name with reverence, awe, and love.
Liturgically, when his name is mentioned, we are instructed to bow our heads in
reverence.
His name of course, was reverenced by the early church, yet
this liturgical feast of the Holy Name only goes back to the 15th
century. St. Bernadine of Siena, Italian priest and Franciscan missionary, saw
a growing irreverence toward Christianity, toward Christ. So he began to spread
understanding and love for Jesus by teaching people to revere his Holy Name.
St. Bernadine took the first three letters of Jesus’ name in
Greek, iota, eta, sigma, which look like the English alphabet letters I-H-S, and
encouraged people to place those letters in their churches, homes, and public
buildings.
In one sermon on the Holy Name, St. Bernadine said,
“Glorious name, gracious name, name of love and of power! Through you sins are
forgiven, through you enemies are vanquished, through you the sick are freed
from their illness, through you those suffering in trials are made strong and
cheerful. You bring honor to those who believe, you teach those who preach, you
give strength to the toiler, you sustain the weary”
I’ve said this before, but when I am waiting in line at a
doctor’s office or grocery store, I like to slowly and simply recite the name
of Jesus, to quiet the mind down enough where only the name of Jesus fills it.
It’s a beautiful, simple, yet powerful way of praying, encouraged by the
saints.
After healing a man crippled from birth, St. Peter says in
the book of Acts, “There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other
name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved”. May we find
healing and salvation from the sins and attitudes and circumstances which
cripple us through the name of Jesus, for the glory of God and salvation of
souls.
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