(The Most Holy Name of Jesus)
 |
| “The Adoration of the Name of Jesus” by El Greco, 1578-79 |
Reading 1: 1 John 2:29–3:6
If you consider that God is
righteous,
you also know that everyone
who acts in righteousness
is begotten by him.
See what love the Father has
bestowed on us
that we may be called the
children of God.
Yet so we are.
The reason the world does not
know us is that it did not know him.
Beloved, we are God’s
children now;
what we shall be has not yet
been revealed.
We do know that when it is
revealed we shall be like him,
for we shall see him as he
is.
Everyone who has this hope
based on him makes himself pure,
as he is pure.
Everyone who commits sin
commits lawlessness,
for sin is lawlessness.
You know that he was revealed
to take away sins,
and in him there is no sin.
No one who remains in him
sins;
no one who sins has seen him
or known him.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on 1 Jn 2:29–3:6
This selection from St. John’s
In chapter 3 the Evangelist
explains Christian Adoption. “The greatest sign of God's love is the gift of
his Son (John 3:16)
that has made Christians true children of God. This relationship is a present
reality and also part of the life to come; true knowledge of God will
ultimately be gained, and Christians prepare themselves now by virtuous lives
in imitation of the Son.”[4]
In the final paragraph
reference to sin and lawlessness are probably references to acting in ways that
follow the teachings of the “antichrist” or false teachers.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 98:1, 3cd-4, 5-6
R. (3cd) All the ends of the earth have seen the
saving power of God.
Sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done wondrous
deeds;
His right hand has won
victory for him,
his holy arm.
R. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving
power of God.
The LORD has made his
salvation known:
in the sight of the nations
he has revealed his justice.
He has remembered his
kindness and his faithfulness
toward the house of Israel
R. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving
power of God.
All the ends of the earth
have seen
the salvation by our God.
Sing joyfully to the LORD,
all you lands;
break into song; sing praise.
R. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving
power of God.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Ps 98:1, 3cd-4, 5-6
Psalm 98 is a song of praise and thanksgiving. We see in this
selection how God is praised for the strength he lends his people and the
salvation he brings to those who are faithful. The psalm rejoices in God’s
salvation. The Lord has revealed his compassion toward the people and they sing
his praises in response. As the Hebrews saw this as salvation for the people of
Israel from its enemies, we see the deeper expression of God’s love as he sent
his Son for salvation and justice for the whole world.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gospel: John 1:29-34
The next day he (John the
Baptist) saw Jesus
coming toward him and said,
“Behold, the Lamb of God, who
takes away the sin of the world.
He is the one of whom I said,
‘A man is coming after me who
ranks ahead of me
because he existed before
me.’
I did not know him,
but the reason why I came
baptizing with water
was that he might be made
known to Israel
John testified further,
saying,
“I saw the Spirit come down
like a dove from the sky
and remain upon him.
I did not know him,
but the one who sent me to
baptize with water told me,
‘On whomever you see the
Spirit come down and remain,
he is the one who will
baptize with the Holy Spirit.’
Now I have seen and testified
that he is the Son of God.”
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Jn 1:29-34
After stating the connection between Jesus the Christ and the
Baptist’s mission, the author follows the tradition of the synoptic Gospels as
he describes Jesus emerging from his baptism in the Jordan St. John
concludes this testimony by St. John
John’s great epiphany becomes our own – Jesus followed John the
Baptist, being born after he was but ranking high above him and everyone
else. He, the Baptist, came baptizing
with water; Jesus in the Holy Spirit and he recounts how, when Jesus came to the
repentant bath in the Jordan, the dove descended and God the Father claimed
him.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Homily:
Of all the images and all the
names of Jesus we receive at this time of year, the one we are given by St.
John’s Gospel today provokes the most emotion. We have heard the story of Jesus
in the womb of Mary and how he was born in humble surroundings. We probably
placed the tiny image of the Christ child in the manger scene in our homes and
thought “How cute is the baby Jesus.”
We have heard little about
him until his baptism by the Baptist in the Jordan River. Here in the account
of St. John’s Gospel is given the image of the Eucharistic Christ. “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the
sin of the world.” We hear a similar phrase and respond to it each time we
go to Mass. The celebrant elevates the newly consecrated host, now the Body of
the Risen Christ and echo’s the marvel of St. John the Baptist. In awe he
proclaims that once more the promise is fulfilled, once more the Lord has come
so that we might be in him and him in us. “Behold
the Lamb of God, behold him who takes away the sins of the world, blessed are
those called to the supper of the Lamb.”
And what is that image, what
holy name is used? Is it the babe in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger? Is
it the mighty Savior, his winnowing fan in his hand who casts out evil? Is it
the Messiah entering the gates of Jerusalem to loud hosannas? No, it is the
Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. The lamb, in Jesus time, the
male lamb was the prescribed animal for the sacrifice of atonement; The Lamb of
God, the meek and unresisting sacrifice that opened the gates of heaven to us.
The blood of that lamb was poured out for all mankind and gained for us the
eternal promise.
Today we celebrate, as
Church, the Feast of the Most Holy Name of Jesus. It is the name bestowed on
the only Son of God, the Lamb of God and at that name at which, as St. Paul
writes in his letter to the Philippines, “…every
knee must bend in the heavens, on the earth, and under the earth, and every
tongue proclaim, to the glory of God the Father, that JESUS CHRIST IS LORD.”
(Philippians 2:10-11)
Pax
[1]
ALTRE
[2]
The picture used today is “The Adoration of the Name of Jesus” by El Greco,
1578-79
[3]
The readings are taken from the New American Bible with the exception of the
Psalm and its response which were developed by the International Committee for
English in Liturgy (ICEL). This re-publication is not authorized by USCCB and
is for private use only.
[4]
See NAB footnote on 1 Jn 3:1ff
No comments:
Post a Comment