Numbers 6:22-27 (NRSV)
The LORD spoke to Moses, saying: Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, Thus you shall bless the Israelites: You shall say to them,
So they shall put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.
- The LORD bless you and keep you;
- the LORD make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you;
- the LORD lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace.
Psalm 8 (BCP., p.592)
Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,
- who, though he was in the form of God,
- did not regard equality with God
- as something to be exploited,
- but emptied himself,
- taking the form of a slave,
- being born in human likeness.
- And being found in human form,
- he humbled himself
- and became obedient to the point of death--
- even death on a cross.
- Therefore God also highly exalted him
- and gave him the name
- that is above every name,
- so that at the name of Jesus
- every knee should bend,
- in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
- and every tongue should confess
- that Jesus Christ is Lord,
- to the glory of God the Father.
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us." So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them.
But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. After eight days had passed, it was time to circumcise the child; and he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
Blog Reflection
My readers might recall my post on St. Thomas the Apostle at which I wrote about using the Common English Bible (CEB). The CEB is said to be "A fresh translation to touch the heart and mind."
As we were waiting for Midnight Mass to begin on Christmas Eve, I took my CEB along with me to do some brief Lectio on some of the Christmas texts. I was most interested when I came to Luke 2:19 that in the CEB reads: "Mary committed these things to memory and considered them carefully." I began to think about the differences between the text from the CEB vs.the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) which reads: "But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart." In my mind there was a big difference between "Treasured all these words" and "committed these things to memory and considered them carefully." As I thought about this, I was more drawn to treasuring and pondering. When we treasure something, it becomes so valuable, that we will do whatever it takes to protect it. To commit them to memory is just not quite the same. We can remember something, and when we do, we make it very present. When we treasure something, not only do we remember and make it present, we never quite put it away. If we do it is only in those safe places where we can "ponder" it and keep some silence about it.
On this New Year's Day, we are treasuring and pondering the Holy Name of Jesus Christ. We are bringing it to the forefront of our memories and making that Name especially present today. It is very interesting to me that on this day, Roman Catholics celebrate Mary, the Mother of God. We Episcopalians celebrate the Holy Name, while reading about Mary as giving Jesus that Name, as she and Joseph were instructed by the Angel who greeted them. This Feast used to be called the Circumcision. It almost appears as a Christening. But, what is most important about this Holy Day during our celebration of Christmas, is that the Christ-Child's Name is Jesus.
What kinds of things are we treasuring and pondering as we consider the Holy Name of Jesus Christ?
I have spent much of my life in the various movements within Christianity. I remember hearing the Name of Jesus Christ used by those who consider themselves Charismatic, to have the power to drive out demons and dark forces. I have also seen this Name used to inflict the worst of spiritual and pastoral violence on people. I know of one such instance in a Pentecostal church where a minister brought a 10 year old girl forward during the service and nearly beat her to get her speak in tongues in the Name of Jesus Christ. Many who oppose lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people accepting and celebrating who they are, will invoke the Name of Jesus to try to change their sexual orientation and/or gender identity/expression and/or prevent equal rights from moving forward. I remember while the health care reform bill was in debate a prayer service being held and invoking the Name of Jesus Christ to prevent it from being passed.
What are we treasuring and pondering in the Name of Jesus Christ?
At the 42nd Trinity Wall Street Institute on Radical Christian Living, Sr.Joan Chittister, OSB said: "What we believe about God is how we relate to God." If we believe that the Name of Jesus Christ is about shaming people or preventing the sick from getting affordable health care, or Social Security benefits, then that Name has very limiting power. It is only available to us to bully and hurt people who are different from ourselves. The way we use the Name of Jesus Christ, is how we relate to who Jesus Christ is.
The hymn from Philippians suggests that the Name of Jesus Christ was given to him, because instead of seeking equality with God, Jesus was a servant of humankind on behalf of God. The honor and exaltation of the Holy Name of Jesus Christ is so, because he suffered along with suffering humankind, and sought to help the marginalized. Jesus was a healer of broken relationships. Jesus sought to include the outcasts and those suffering from prejudice and oppression, to help them know of God's unconditional love for all people.
What are we treasuring and pondering in the Name of Jesus Christ?
It appears to me that to use the Holy Name of Jesus Christ to invoke any kind of militaristic hate towards any person or group of people, is to use his Name in vain. To suggest that God allowed twenty eight individuals, including twenty children to be shot to death was because we have forbidden prayer in our public schools, and that we should all invoke the Name of Jesus Christ is quite the misuse of that wonderful and glorious Name.
To suggest that it was through the Name of Jesus Christ, that natural disasters happen to certain parts of the world because of marriage equality or parties for LGBT people of any kind, is to presume things about Jesus Christ that do not exactly fit his description.
On the other hand, to suggest that it is because of the Holy Name of Jesus Christ that we need to pray and seek union with God, so that we might do what we can to alleviate religious based prejudice and violence; now that is really honoring the Son of God. If we will carry the Holy Name of Jesus Christ by walking with those who suffer due to poverty, economic injustice and sickness; we are not only worshiping Christ, but carrying out his commandment to love others in his Name.
As we begin 2013, may we treasure and ponder the Name of Jesus Christ by looking at the example of Mary and Joseph, as well as many other Saints who have and continue to demonstrate what it means to serve on behalf of that incredible Name. May we spend time in prayer to Jesus, as well as reading and studying the Scriptures, but also be willing to do some thing that makes Jesus Christ a good Name among humankind.
Amen.
Prayers
Eternal Father, you gave to your incarnate Son the holy name
of Jesus to be the sign of our salvation: Plant in every heart,
we pray, the love of him who is the Savior of the world, our
Lord Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy
Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen. (Collect for the Holy Name, Book of Common Prayer, p. 213).
Grant, O God, that your holy and life-giving Spirit may so
move every human heart [and especially the hearts of the
people of this land], that barriers which divide us may
crumble, suspicions disappear, and hatreds cease; that our
divisions being healed, we may live in justice and peace;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Prayer for Social Justice, Book of Common Prayer, p. 823).
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