Reflection for the Solemnity of the Holy Name of Jesus 2022

Blessed Be His Name!

“Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit; she will bear a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”

How does it feel to be 101 years old? Pretty good I think, echoing Bishop Bernard’s message at our celebratory Holy Mass of Thanksgiving this past October.

Indeed, another year is dawning as we will hear in our recessional hymn. That hymn reminds us of all we must do as we enter our second centenary. We can repeat with the hymn our very heartfelt request to the Father, that the year and century ahead will be a time of working and waiting with God. A time of learning, trusting, mercies, faithfulness, graces, gladness, progress, praise, service, and training all while leaning on our Father’s breast as we anew prove His presence right here in our community.

It is a special grace that we begin our new century with the celebration of the Solemnity of the Holy Name of Jesus which fell on the first Sunday of this new year, 2022.

Anew – that is a word we will focus on in a very particular way for years to come. We together have spent the last decade in a lot of hard work building up this parish, strengthening it, readying it. Now is the time for the next great step.

We are indeed strong and ready to undertake a great mission – making the Holy Name of Jesus known once again by our evangelistic efforts.

I can recount some of what I used to encounter growing up. The Name of Jesus was well known and was respected. In fact, we understood each other often in relationship to the church or other place of worship we attended. 

For example, walking into a Synagogue, I knew what to do. The last time I walked into one and asked for a Kippah/Yarmulka, the Rabbi was surprised, perhaps not expecting that sign of respect. In my church, people who came for special events like weddings and funerals, even if they were not Catholic, knew to stand, sit, and kneel at appropriate times. That does not happen much anymore. The Name Jesus does not elicit respect, not out of disrespect or meanness, but rather out of a lack of knowledge. So, we have work to do.

We are called to the work of the first apostles and disciples. We are asked to bring the light of Jesus’ Holy Name into every corner of our world. We are to offer hope by our witness to the Holy Name of Jesus. It really is not difficult. We have the grace of God with us; that gives us confidence. Speak of and spread Jesus’ Holy Name as a personal mission. Welcome people to experience Jesus in simple discussions. Try this key: Ask people what matters to them, then discuss how God fits into that in our lives. If we do this, we will bless His Name.

Homily for Solemn Vespers of Thanksgiving on the Centennial of the Parish

He predestined us to be his adopted children through Jesus Christ, simply because it pleased him to do so. This he did for the praise of the glory of his grace, of his free gift to us in his Beloved, in whose blood we have gained redemption, and the forgiveness of our sins.

From this evening’s Canticle taken from the first chapter of St. Paul’s Epistle to the Church at Ephesus.

This evening we begin this three-day celebration, marked by worship in liturgy and in festive repast. We start with Vespers, the age-old rhythm of prayer in which we join with the entire Church praying through the psalms. How fitting that we pray with the whole Church as the whole Church prays with us.

This prayer, as with the Holy Masses we will celebrate is a communal action, joining the Body of Christ outwardly and mystically.

The words joining, communal. the whole – all speak to the unity we have in the Holy Name of Jesus. It is what St. Paul often speaks of – the one Body of Christ, each person with a role, each person a member. In Ephesians 1 Paul calls us adopted children through Jesus Christ.

As adoptees, we are members of the family of God. We have become co-heirs to the promises of the Father right beside His Son Jesus. This is a wonderful and happy prospect. It is a gift given to us by the Father’s beloved Son, Jesus.

The amazing and Most Holy Name of Jesus. It is interesting that this parish, currently Holy Name of Jesus, grew out of St. Joseph’s parish. It was Joseph, who having received instruction in a dream, gave God’s Son the name Jesus. Joseph listened to the voice of God and did what was asked of him. So, back-in-the-day the people of this parish listened to the inspiration given them and decided to dedicate this parish to Jesus’ Holy Name.

The amazing and Most Holy Name of Jesus. I suppose it would have been a bit easier to keep the name St. Joseph’s for this parish. We can relate to Joseph as a person, as a holy and righteous man who carried out God’s instruction. It is kind of hard to relate to an idea like a name. That is more conceptual. What does a name mean, what does it denote, what can it do?

We have plenty of scriptural evidence that tells us of the power of Jesus’ name, what it denotes and does. In Acts 3:16, the Holy Name of Jesus heals. Seventy-five times in the Gospels and Acts we find phrases like: the name of Jesus, the name of the Lord, His name, and other references. Jesus’ name is one of power and hope. In Acts 4:12 we hear Peter and John tell those persecuting them that: “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” True life, eternal life, freedom from sin come from the Name of Jesus. Acts 2:21 tells us: “And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” So, we have been privileged to call upon His name and to be dedicated to His Holy Name, to be saved by and in His Holy Name.

But there is more.

During this weekend of celebration, look around. Look into the faces of people touched by our bearing witness to the Holy Name of Jesus. Then look deeper.

As Christians we often bandy about the idea that everyone is created in God’s image, that each person is a reflection of Jesus. You know, whatever you do or say to them, you do or say to Me. That is absolutely true. But there is more. Each person also bears within themselves the Name of Jesus.

For some, it is right out there for all to see. Some can certainly say: I bear the Name of Jesus in all I say and do. I proclaim Jesus wherever I go.  For others it may be more subtle, not quite on top, but we can perceive through their actions, their goodness and compassion, that they bear the Name of Jesus. Still for others, it is much harder to find, so much so that we forget they bear the Name of Jesus in them. We forget that Joe, Mary, Estelle, Nancy, Hypathia, Tony or the other is marked with the Name Jesus just as much as we are.

This is where that great hymn we began with should jump to the fore of our minds and lips: Holy God we praise Thy Name. For if we fail to act with compassion and charity toward anyone, we do not praise His Name we reject it, and thus reject the adoption, salvation, and healing His Holy Name brings.

This is a great and humbling lesson we must carry forth from here. It is a lesson for the next millennia – to continue to carry out the work underway here since 1921. 

For one hundred years, a century, we have opened our hearts and have seen the Name of Jesus in others, caught a glimpse of His image in them and welcomed them. We have grasped unto His adoption, healing, and salvation. We have brought comfort to the dispossessed, the stranger became no more a stranger. Those whose dignity was insulted found restoration here. Those who came without left filled.  We praised His Holy Name. We greatly and rightly praised the Holy Name of Jesus.

Reflection for the Solemnity of the Holy Name of Jesus 2021

“…you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” 

Matthew 1:21

I AM, Savior, Redeemer, Christ, Lord, Master, Messiah, Logos (the Word), Son of God, Son of man, Son of David, Lamb of God, New Adam, Light of the World, Bread of Life, King of the Jews, Rabboni or Rabbi, Teacher, Chosen One, High Priest, Way, Truth, and Life, Prophet, Priest and King, Gate, Gatekeeper, Emmanuel, Almighty, Alpha and Omega, Bridegroom, Cornerstone, King of Kings, Lord of Lords, True God, Good Shepherd, Head of the Church, Lion of the Tribe of Judah, Morning Star, Our Righteousness, Resurrection and Life, Root of David, Rock, True Vine, Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Prince of Peace, Refuge of sinners, All.

Today we begin the celebration of one-hundred years of faithful service here in Schenectady. For one-hundred years the people of this parish have carried the Holy Name of Jesus before them in song, prayer, and praise. For one-hundred years we have fallen on our knees before the Holy Name of Jesus and bowed at the mention of His Holy Name.

In good and bad times, in celebration, baptisms, weddings, and anniversaries; in war, poverty, social discord, sickness, and death the Holy Name of Jesus has been on our lips and in our hearts.

All of those names of Jesus listed have comforted, consoled, taught, and strengthened us. When we faced confusion, He was the Way, Truth, and Life. When we sought knowledge, He was our Wonderful Counselor, Teacher, and Rabbi. When we evangelized, He opened the Gate to those who listened. When we saw the mighty hand of God at work among us in healings, He was Mighty God and Good Physician. When we felt lost, He was Good Shepherd, Light, and Rock. When there was conflict, He was Prince of Peace. When we worshiped, He was the Word, High Priest, and Bread of Life. He is all that today and more. He will be that in the next moment and forever.

We, His people, here in Schenectady, have the privilege to bear His Holy Name within our community and before the world. We have the obligation to assume, in different ways and through varied ministries, Jesus’ Holy Name by carrying it to the lost, the poor, the sick – to all who do not know the Holy Name but deep in their hearts are called to know, love, and serve Him. We have the obligation by the blessings we have received, and continue to receive, through our calling on the Holy Name of Jesus to let others know that they may call upon Him.

Looking through the history of this parish, from the first five hundred individuals who founded this place to all who have been touched by this holy endeavor, we see a list of those who stood fast in Jesus and found in Him all that they needed.

Indeed, the Holy Name of Jesus is powerful to save and so in this year let us celebrate and recommit ourselves to lifting high the Holy Name of Jesus. Let us set to work in making Him known. In doing so, in honoring and respecting the power of His Name, we will continue to be abundantly blessed.

May the Holy Name of Jesus be praised! Now and forevermore.