HOLY NAME

1 John 2:29-3:6; Ps 98 All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God; John 1:29-34

"You shall call his name Jesus, for he shall save his people from their sins."

Twice once with Mary and again with Joseph does the angel give the command that the child was to be named Jesus, which means savior.


To be saved from our sins, is this really something to be grateful for.

In his book on the Infant Narratives of Jesus, Pope Benedict expressed this sentiment, people are disappointed in Jesus because he comes to save them from their sins but what they want is to be saved from suffering. (p 42)

Pope Benedict points out the story of the paralytic who is brought to Jesus on a mat.  The sick man's condition was an urgent plea for salvation and Jesus response to this urgent plea was forgiveness of sins.

Yet the debate was whether or not it was sufficient since the last thing the people were concerned with was forgiveness for what they wanted was for him to walk.

Yet Jesus reveals that the priority of forgiveness for sins as the foundation of all true healing is clearly maintained.

What Jesus points the way for is a clear understanding of what is primary in life: right relationship with God only then can goodness be experienced.

This is what the Holy Name of Jesus represents.  The name itself points us toward the ultimate ground of reality: truth and goodness reside in that right relationship and only when it is healed can the human person be whole.