Friday of Easter week

If we are being examined today

about a good deed done to a cripple,
namely, by what means he was saved,
then all of you and all the people of Israel should know
that it was in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazorean
whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead;
in his name this man stands before you healed.
He is the stone rejected by you, the builders,
which has become the cornerstone.
There is no salvation through anyone else,
nor is there any other name under heaven
given to the human race by which we are to be saved.”

The Church has always revered the Holy Name of Jesus. Although it was a common name among the Jews of Palestine, and remains a popular name among Christians today, it is rich with meaning and was specifically chosen by God. In both infancy narratives of Saint Matthew and Saint Luke, an Angel tells Mary and Joseph to name the child Jesus.

This is essentially the name Moses gave to his lieutenant, Hoshea (Numbers 13:8). Joshua means “YHWH saves.” After Moses died Joshua led the people to capture Jericho and then oversaw the settlement of Canaan.

 In the Roman Empire what you knew was less important than who you knew. What you really needed were powerful patrons in high places. In our own time, when the worth of money fluctuates hourly and your proficiency will be superannuated by next year, it still helps to know the right people. They open doors, provide information, make contacts and facilitate operations. Successful people are often the best schmoozers.

The early Christians regarded Jesus as a better name than Caesar. There was no better name in heaven, on earth or under the earth. And the best way to improve that name was not by keeping it secret. There was no need for jealousy here. They would spread the Good News to the far corners of the Earth so that everyone would know, bless and hallow that name.

Twelve centuries later, Saint Francis would preach the name of Jesus. The authors of his legends say he called the name like a sheep calling for his shepherd. Preachers in the southern United States would adopt a similar usage as they sing out the word.

The Franciscan Saint Bernadine of Siena encouraged Italian crowds to pray in the name of Jesus. In fact he urged Catholic to add Jesus’ name to the end of their prayer, the Ave Maria. Until that time it was simply a repetition of two of Saint Luke’s verses: “Hail Mary full of grace, the Lord is with you, blessed are you among women” plus “Blessed is the fruit of your womb.” Bernadine asked the congregations, “Who is the fruit of her womb?” and they all cried, “Jesus!”

(Some years later, as the Black Death swept over Europe, they added more phrases, “Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death.”)

Christians still revere the name of Jesus in our prayer. Many people bow their head whenever they hear the word.

Jesus is the Word made flesh. His very name has become flesh. We should keep the name always in our hearts and often on our lips as we go about our lives. Every passing ambulance wails for prayer; every tragic headline urges us to prayer; every sad sensation and happy emotion compels us to pray in the sweet name of Jesus.

For there is no salvation through anyone else,
nor is there any other name under heaven
given to the human race by which we are to be saved.”