Ten Lords a leaping

1 John 2 :29-36; Ps 98 All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God; John 1:29-34

Today is the tenth day of Christmas.  That's right, we are not yet finished with Christmas or its season nor its joy.

Remembering the twelve days of Christmas were originally meant as a catechetical tool to teach the faith in a time when the faith was outlawed (in England to be fact), we turn to the Ten Lords a leaping.

This particular tool for teaching is directed toward the ten commandments, which is fitting on today's feast.

Today in the church we celebrate the feast of the Holy Name of Jesus.

Jesus means savior.  His name is both who he is and what his mission or purpose is all about.
This is why we are asked by the Church to bow our heads every time the name of Jesus is proclaimed or pronounced in the liturgy.

We bow our heads to acknowledge with gratitude the great favor we have received from almighty God for each of us and all of us.  Jesus saves and we are forever grateful.

To recall the words of Jesus in the gospel, "Father protect them in Your name that you gave me."

The invocation of the name of Jesus is protection for us as we journey through life.  We live and breathe beneath the protection of the one who Saves.

Invoke the name of Jesus often, especially when temptation comes knocking.

Now turning our attention to the Ten Commandments, we recall one of them, "Do not take the name of the Lord in vain."

There is great significance to this commandment.  How often people come and mention how they let the name of God slip but they will usually follow it up with but I didn't mean anything by it.

This is exactly the point of the commandment.  Taking something in vain is when we don't mean anything by it.  Perhaps we should start meaning something with the words we use and the names we profess.


Lastly, Notice that in the first reading the very first word that comes from the Mouth of John the Baptist, "Behold."

Behold....What do we behold on a daily basis?  How do we behold Jesus acting in our life and the lives of others?  How do we behold the saving mystery of grace?  What do people behold in us?

Often we think we are living right and holding firm to the faith but what others experience in us is something completely different.  Today behold yourself and behold how others respond to you and in the midst of that behold the one who comes to save.


IHS