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The Name of Jesus: Its Power in Our Lives
http://www.therealpresence.org/archives/Christology/Christology_015.htm ^ | Unknown | Fr. John A. Hardon

Posted on 01/16/2007 9:48:25 AM PST by stfassisi

The Name of Jesus: Its Power in Our Lives Fr. John A. Hardon, S.J.

Our reflections are on the name of Jesus, its power in our lives.

Whoever enters on the path of sanctity must keep his focus clear. What are we doing? Whom are we following? How are we to act? Why are we acting as we are? All of these questions can be answered in one word: Jesus. What are we doing? Better, what should we be doing? What Jesus told us to. Whom are we following? Jesus. How are we to live? As Jesus did. And why? Why should we do all the multitudinous things that anyone who is serious about sanctity must do? Why? Because Jesus wants us to.

In order to make our reflections as definite and practical as possible, let us simply look at the following aspects of our subject. Thirty years of teaching have taught me, if you want to concentrate a lot of matter into a short space, always give your students, or here, your listeners, a preview. Then fill out the frame. What’s the preview? This is no mere subject. This is an ocean. First, to ask the meaning of the name Jesus. Second, its promise. Third, its power. And fourth, its place in our lives. Meaning, promise, power and place in our lives. There is no single word, no single title, no single name in all of God’s revelation that has been more explicitly, unqualifyingly, and solemnly explained than this one.

Meaning of the Name of Jesus At the Annunciation, when the angel told Mary she was to become the mother of the Son of the Most High, she was told, “You are to conceive and bear a son and you must,” yet the imperative verb, “you must name him Jesus.” Then when Joseph was in a quandary whilst he discovered that Mary was with child he knew it wasn’t his child, again, the angel appeared to him, told him, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because she has conceived what is in her by the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son and you must,” again the imperative, “you must name Him Jesus because He is the one Who is to save His people from their sins.”

And the evangelist goes on recalling the prophesy of Isaiah. Two names are synonyms - Jesus and Emmanuel. Why is Jesus the one Who will save His people from their sins? Because He is God with us. God became man. That’s the reason for the Incarnation. The invisible God became a visible man. Talk about being with us. He could be seen, heard, touched, felt. And His touching us and our being touched by Him is the means, the channel, by which the Almighty become a man, saves us from our sins. Then, in one crisp verse when the eighth day came and the child was to be circumcised, they gave Him the name, Jesus; the name the angel had given Him before His conception.

So far the meaning with one more word added. What does the name mean? It means Saviour. The one Who saves sinners estranged from God. Save sinners, that’s not some generic name for humanity. That’s us. Saves us by reconciling us with a God we’ve offended. Without Jesus, there is no reconciliation. With a just God, He saves us by removing the penalty we’ve deserved for our sins. Sin means two things: loss of God’s friendship and pain, suffering as a penalty for having sinned. This being saved locks up everything that we believe we need, because we have sinned.

The Promise of the Name of Jesus It would almost seem as though the Savior went out of His way to make as clear as possible how much we could achieve, much, pardon the grammar, how everything we could achieve, provided we have faith in His name. Memorize the place. (John 14:13). “Whatever you ask for in my name, I will do” – period. “Whatever.” “Whatever you ask for.” That’s not all. “in my name.” Behind the use of His name, must be contained a lifetime of insight and grasping and of penetration into all that is contained in that simple, holy name.

This time in Matthew, “I tell you most solemnly, anything you ask for from the Father, He will grant in my name.” (Matthew 16:23). Then, speaking to these same disciples, “Until now you have not asked for anything in my name, ask and you will receive and so thus consequently, your joy will be complete.” One sentence we are sure on Christ’s words is infallibly true, Jesus is our joy. While this is not automatic, this does not “happen to us” in spite of what we can do. We must ask. We must invoke. We must beg in this name. Summarily, what is Christ telling us as He promises not much or so much, but everything. Christ repeated and spelled out and in the most emphatic terms prescribed “this is an order, ask, but in my name” and it’s in that prepositional phrase “in my name” that we have got to know what we are saying, whom we are invoking, what infinity we are tapping. We had better know what we are doing when we pronounce and invoke this name.

The Power of the Name of Jesus Common sense tells us that if Christ had made what humanly speaking sound like extravagant promises, that the apostolic church after Christ rose from the dead and ascended to His Father, the apostolic church would, you’ll find out, whether the promises made by Christ were real or not. They were real.

I like to dramatize this a little bit when I talk about it. He’s Peter and John shortly after Pentecost. Going toward the gate called Beautiful, there is a paralytic, helpless, asking for a handout. Peter asked what the paralyzed man wanted. He wanted some shekels. Peter and John, following the poor Christ, didn’t have shekels. So, Peter probably looked at John. “What do I do?” John shook his head. “Do it.” Peter, for a split second must have thought to himself, “Lord, I hope it works, you said it would.” So Peter with all his Petrine authority looked down at the man and told him, “Silver and gold we do not have, but what I have I give you.” The heavens waited breathlessly. “In the name of Jesus Christ, the Nazarene, walk!”, history records, otherwise I wouldn’t be speaking and you wouldn’t be listening. The man got up and walked. The first miracle of the apostolic church and appropriately performed by the first vicar of Christ. What Christ promised works. The man walked. No wonder then Peter could tell the Sanhedrin, remember, when he was taken into custody for preaching this name. This is the Peter who cowered at amazed question, “Aren’t you one of this man’s followers?” Big, brave Peter wilted, denied his master. But now stands up and tells the Sanhedrin, mind you it is the same Sanhedrin that condemned Christ to death. He should have been scared. Oh, no. Now he had power. Power to work two kind of miracles. Miracles over nature and miracles over his own weak human will. And he told the leaders of the Sanhedrin, “this is the stone rejected by you, the builders, which has proved to be the keystone for all the names given to man, this is the only one by which we can be saved and this time hear it. The Sanhedrin wilted. Talk about power. Power over the worst enemy we have – ourselves.

We read the Letters of St. Paul and the second part of the Acts of the Apostles, which are many of the acts of the apostles. Peter, Part I. Paul, Part II. Paul preached Jesus. He talked Jesus. He lived Jesus. And his greatest desire, he said, “was to be dissolved and be united with Jesus.”

If there is one main theme of the apostolic church it is the power of this name, power to work physical miracles, power especially to work moral miracles. No wonder, no wonder the Mediterranean world, the unbelieving pagan, cruel world was converted. The ones who proclaimed Christianity knew what they had at their disposal. The power of infinity become man. All crowded in one name - Jesus.

The Name of Jesus and Its Place in Our Lives The name of Jesus is at once a creed, it summarizes everything we believe. It is a mystery beyond human comprehension in which we believe. It is a prayer. The most important single petition we can make to God. It is as far as we can use the word, a sacrament. It produces what it signifies. It gives the grace hidden behind the name, Jesus. We should use this name, change the verb, we must use this name, change it once more, we better use this name. Christ told us to. In telling God we love Him, listen. God is no longer, no longer, and will not be for the rest of eternity, a hidden, invisible God. God is no man, so we tell him, Jesus, my God I love you. We beg you for the mercy we need. Jesus, have mercy. We thank God for all He has given us. Jesus, thank you.

Prayer Let’s close with an obvious prayer. Jesus, you told us, indeed you commanded us to invoke your name. Teach us, Lord Jesus, the blessings hidden in the humble believing use of your Holy Name. Show us from experience that what you promised is really true, that your name is the most powerful prayer we have on earth, to rise above our sins to practice the virtues we need to be saved and to have a foretaste now of the joy that awaits us in heaven provided we have reverently and trustfully and lovingly invoked your Sacred Name. Amen. In the Name of Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen


TOPICS: Catholic; Mainline Protestant; Other Christian
KEYWORDS: catholic; christ; holyname; jesus; jesuschrist; jesusprayer; prayer; yeshua
The name of Jesus is at once a creed, it summarizes everything we believe. It is a mystery beyond human comprehension in which we believe. It is a prayer. The most important single petition we can make to God. It is as far as we can use the word, a sacrament. It produces what it signifies. It gives the grace hidden behind the name, Jesus. We should use this name, change the verb, we must use this name, change it once more, we better use this name. Christ told us to. In telling God we love Him, listen. God is no longer, no longer, and will not be for the rest of eternity, a hidden, invisible God. God is no man, so we tell him, Jesus, my God I love you. We beg you for the mercy we need. Jesus, have mercy. We thank God for all He has given us. Jesus, thank you.


1 posted on 01/16/2007 9:48:27 AM PST by stfassisi
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To: Salvation; Pyro7480; jo kus; bornacatholic; Campion; NYer; Diva; RobbyS; Running On Empty; SuzyQ; ..

Ping


2 posted on 01/16/2007 9:50:14 AM PST by stfassisi ("Above all gifts that Christ gives his beloved is that of overcoming self"St Francis Assisi)
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To: Siobhan; Canticle_of_Deborah; NYer; Salvation; sandyeggo; american colleen; Desdemona; ...

Catholic ping!


3 posted on 01/16/2007 10:19:06 AM PST by Pyro7480 ("Give me an army saying the Rosary and I will conquer the world." - Pope Blessed Pius IX)
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To: stfassisi
"But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women" (Acts 8:12). Philip Preached The Name Of Jesus Christ.

To preach the name of Jesus Christ is to preach the authority of Jesus Christ.
The Jews asked the apostles, "By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?" Peter said, "that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, who ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him . . . ." Observe that it was by the power or name or authority of Jesus Christ (cf. Acts 4:7, 10, 12). The name of Jesus is the power or authority of Jesus. "Neither is there salvation in any other (name, power or authority - )for there is none other name (or authority ) under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved" (Acts 4:12). Philip, therefore, spoke of salvation in the name of Jesus Christ. He said that Christ now has "all authority" and that those who are taught concerning Christ are to be baptized "into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit" (Matt. 28:18-20).
4 posted on 01/16/2007 10:26:47 AM PST by bremenboy (Just Because I Am Born Again Doesn't Mean I was Born Again Yesterday)
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To: stfassisi
Praise His Holy Name!

The Name above all other names.

YHvH is my strength and song,
And He has become my salvation; (Exodus 15:2)

YHvH has become my Salvation (Psalm 118-14)

I shall give thanks to You, for You have answered me,
And You have become my salvation (Psalms 118:21)

Behold, YHvH is my salvation,
I will trust and not be afraid;
For YHvH Adonai is my strength and song,
And He has become my salvation (Isaiah 12:2)

b'shem Y'shua
5 posted on 01/16/2007 10:47:17 AM PST by Uri’el-2012 (Psalm 144:1 Praise be to YHvH, my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle.)
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To: XeniaSt

Jesus: Fair rabbi. Failed King of Israel (moshiac). Yet "messiah" in the sense that the United States could not have been founded without Judeo-Christianity, either sense of which, if lost, will doom us.


6 posted on 01/16/2007 10:57:41 AM PST by onedoug
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To: onedoug
Jesus: Fair rabbi. Failed King of Israel (moshiac). Yet "messiah" in the sense that the United States could not have been founded without Judeo-Christianity, either sense of which, if lost, will doom us.

6 posted on 01/16/2007 11:57:41 AM MST by onedoug

Y'shua is the future King of Israel as He is the King of the Universe.

Who will come and reign when His Chosen People call on His Name.

Mattityahu 23:39 For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say,
'Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord.'" [Tehillim 118:26]


Barukh haba b'Shem YHvH
Blessed is He who comes in the Name of YHvH
Yah'shua haMashiach
He will come and reign, as He promised, over the universe from Jerusalem during the seventh millennium day of rest.
b'shem Y'shua
7 posted on 01/16/2007 11:24:27 AM PST by Uri’el-2012 (Psalm 144:1 Praise be to YHvH, my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle.)
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To: XeniaSt

Even in the spirit of the Nazarenes, in my opinion, one who perceives her/himself a Christian though a Jew is really neither. Though what an American will, until it's gone.


8 posted on 01/16/2007 1:59:29 PM PST by onedoug
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To: Pyro7480; stfassisi; bremenboy; XeniaSt; onedoug; narses; murphE; Aquinasfan; ...
My parish Holy Name society asked me to give a short (very short) talk on the Holy Name last September. Here is what I told them. --Dajjal


THE HOLY NAME


The Holy Name of God Incarnate, the Second Person of the Trinity, is Yeshua or Jesus, which means “Yahweh is Salvation” (Luke 1:31). “And thou shalt call His Name Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sins” (Matt. 1:21).

It was a fairly common name at the time, but it perfectly encapsulates the message of the whole Bible. It perfectly summarizes the history of the economy of salvation: from Genesis to the Book of Revelations -- it is summed up in the name “Jesus.”

The name implies the unity of purpose between the Father and the Son, and the love they share -- which is the Holy Spirit -- for all mankind by devising a means for man’s salvation after Adam’s fall.

Truly, it is “the Name above every other name” and “the Name at which every knee should bend” (Phil. 2:9).

The name of Jesus -- that He brings Yahweh’s salvation -- implies that He must possess all Truth, all Goodness, all Beauty, all Knowledge, all Power over all things -- and possesses these traits for all Eternity. Jesus possesses all that we find attractive, admirable, and desirable. As St. Augustine said, “our hearts are restless until they rest in Thee.”

The name Jesus is the perfect prayer, when said reverently. It is the simplest, shortest, most sublime, most direct prayer. The four elements of prayer -- adoration, praise, petition and thanksgiving -- are performed when calling out reverently the name Jesus. There are many short prayers centered on the Holy Name.

Jesus, I trust in You.
Jesus Christ, have mercy on me, a sinner.
My Jesus, mercy.
Praise be Jesus Christ.
Jesus, My God, I love Thee above all things.
My Sweetest Jesus, be not to me a Judge, but a Savior.
Jesus, hide me in Your wounds.
Help me, Jesus.
Jesus, Mary.
Jesus, Mary, Joseph.
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus ....

Therefore we should keep the Holy Name always in our hearts and on our lips. We should pray it without ceasing (I Thess. 5:17). The author of The Way of a Pilgrim cites the teaching of the Desert Fathers, to pray the Holy Name with every breath, with every heartbeat.

We should keep the Holy Name in all of our actions. St. Paul says to perform “... every good purpose and work of faith, that the Name of the Lord may be glorified in you, and you in Him” (II Thess. 1:11-12). “Whatever you do in word or in work, do all in the Name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to the Father through Him.” (Col. 3:17).

Our minds wander throughout the day, distracted by the myriad of sense objects and memories. The simplest way to bring the mind back into focus on what is important is simply to call out “Jesus” in reverent prayer.

We should pray for all our needs -- both material and spiritual, but especially for holiness, for the forgiveness of our sins, and to offer up our suffering to His Pierced Heart. We should pray for the souls in Purgatory, and unite our prayers with all the Masses said throughout the world.

The Holy Name of Jesus, Yahweh is Salvation, gives us comfort throughout all the trials and tribulations of life, and provides us with hope for everlasting life upon our body’s death.

Because Yahweh is the salvation of all mankind, it is vital that we evangelize, giving witness to the truth of the Catholic Faith, by our words and example, to those we meet. This is true charity, true love (agape).

The Holy Name is a great refuge and shelter against the snares and temptations of the Devil. Satan hates the name of Jesus.

Now we can have some idea of just how heinous is the sin of taking the Holy Name in vain, violating the Second Commandment.

“Let the desire of our souls be Thy Name and the remembrance of Thee” (Isa. 26.8). “There is no other Name under Heaven given men whereby we might be saved” (Acts 4:12).
9 posted on 01/16/2007 4:27:47 PM PST by Dajjal (See my FR homepage for new essay about Ahmadinejad.)
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Comment #10 Removed by Moderator

Comment #11 Removed by Moderator

To: stfassisi
The Name of Jesus: Its Power in Our Lives

The Holy Name of Jesus

Devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus

The Holy Name of Jesus


12 posted on 01/16/2007 4:58:51 PM PST by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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To: stfassisi
Blessed be the most holy Name of Jesus without end!


January Devotion: The Holy Name of Jesus

The month of January is traditionally dedicated to the Holy Name of Jesus. This feast is also celebrated on January 3. Here is an explanation of the devotion.

Since the 16th century Catholic piety has associated entire months to special devotions. The devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus has been traditionally associated with the month of January, due to its celebration on January 3. The name Jesus was given to the Holy Child at God's command (Luke 1:31). The Holy Name is all-powerful because of the Person who bears it; we honor it because of the command of Christ, that we should pray in His Name and because it reminds us of all the blessings we receive through our Holy Redeemer. Hence St. Paul was able to write to the Philippians: ". . . at the name of Jesus every knee should bend of those in heaven, on earth, and under the earth" (Phil. 2:10). By means of this devotion we also make amends for improper use of the Holy Name.

Prayer Source: Prayer Book, The by Reverend John P. O'Connell, M.A., S.T.D. and Jex Martin, M.A., The Catholic Press, Inc., Chicago, Illinois, 1954

Prayer/Hymn in Honor of the Most Holy Name of Jesus - Iesu, Dulcis Memoria

Iesu, Dulcis Memoria is a celebrated 12th century hymn attributed to St. Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153), Doctor Mellifluus. The entire hymn has some 42 to 53 stanzas depending upon the manuscript. Parts of this hymn were used for the Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus, which was formerly celebrated on the Sunday between the Circumcision and Epiphany, or failing such a Sunday, on January 2. The part below was used at Vespers. In the liturgical revisions of Vatican II, the feast was deleted, though a votive Mass to the Holy Name of Jesus had been retained for devotional use. With the release of the revised Roman Missal in March 2002, the feast was restored as an optional memorial on January 3.

Jesus, the very thought of Thee
With sweetness fills the breast!
Yet sweeter far Thy face to see
And in Thy presence rest.

No voice can sing, no heart can frame,
Nor can the memory find,
A sweeter sound than Jesus' name,
The Savior of mankind.

O hope of every contrite heart!
0 joy of all the meek!
To those who fall, how kind Thou art!
How good to those who seek!

But what to those who find? Ah! this
Nor tongue nor pen can show
The love of Jesus, what it is,
None but His loved ones know.

Jesus! our only hope be Thou,
As Thou our prize shalt be;
In Thee be all our glory now,
And through eternity. Amen.

---Roman Breviary

Prayer Source: Prayer Book, The by Reverend John P. O'Connell, M.A., S.T.D. and Jex Martin, M.A., The Catholic Press, Inc., Chicago, Illinois, 1954

 

O Divine Jesus, Thou hast promised that anything we ask of the Eternal Father in Thy name shall be granted.

O Eternal Father. In the name of Jesus, for the love of Jesus, in fulfillment of this promise, and because Jesus has said it, grant us our petitions for the sake of Jesus, Thy Divine Son. Amen.

Prayer Source: Prayer Book, The by Reverend John P. O'Connell, M.A., S.T.D. and Jex Martin, M.A., The Catholic Press, Inc., Chicago, Illinois, 1954

13 posted on 01/16/2007 5:00:17 PM PST by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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To: Dajjal
It's great that you believe in Jesus, who brings God to so many lives.

...Unless you also claim to be a Jew, which you - again, in my opinion (and those of at least Orthodox Jews) - cannot.

14 posted on 01/16/2007 6:42:14 PM PST by onedoug
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To: Dajjal

Yes Satan hates the Name of Jesus. His Name is blasphemed on dozens of mainstream tv/cable channels and in the movies 24x7 which tells you who is running the show in the entertainment industry.

It was once described to me as a quite a devastating sin. One is sending curses of the Holy Name into eternity.


15 posted on 01/16/2007 7:11:35 PM PST by part deux
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To: Dajjal
Jesus, hide me in Your wounds.

I have found that prayer a great help when facing temptation.

Thank-you for that ping. =) Viva Cristo Rey!

16 posted on 01/16/2007 7:42:37 PM PST by murphE (These are days when the Christian is expected to praise every creed but his own. --G.K. Chesterton)
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To: part deux
I having been just going crazy every time I hear on tv or a movie and yes when Christians use Gods name in vain while cursing. I too at times in a frustrated moment will say Oh God and I have been trying to change my ways. I really love our Lord and the name of Jesus can be quite peaceful when said in the proper way. But it is when professed Christians are the guilty that drives me crazy. If you can send me any teachings you have learned that I too may learn as well and pass on to others. But we need to all come together and protest what hollywood does to the sweet name of our Lord. bless. Send it to me in my private mail.
17 posted on 01/17/2007 12:13:03 AM PST by red irish (Gods Children in the womb are to be loved too!)
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