May 21

Scripture: Lectionary # 284: Acts 13:44-52. Psalm 98:1.2-3.3-4. John
14:7-14:

St. Bernardine of Siena (1380-1444) whose feast we celebrated yesterday,
had a great love for the sacred name of Jesus. He always preached in the
name of Jesus and did what the apostles did in their day. The Fourth
Gospel is the Good News that also gives us a more reverent and devotional
dimension to the holy name of Jesus. Being semitic in many of his images,
words, and geographical precision, the reverence for a name shines through.
Jesus himself helps us to understand the depth of meaning that his name
carries. Literally the Name of Jesus means "God (Yahweh) is salvation".
Jeshua, Jehoshua, and Joshua are forms ot the common name of Jesus.
Elsewhere in the New Testament the name Jesus is found in Colossians 4:11,
Jesus called Justus,and in Acts 7:45; Hebrews 4:8 as referring to Joshua
the military leader. In the Gospel for today, Jesus is telling us to ask of
him anything in his Name and he will do it." (John 14:14).

Jesus gives us many insights into his Name by means of the "I AM"
statements he makes: "I am the way, the truth, the life. I am the light,
the bread, the good and excellent shepherd, etc. All these are found in
John's revelatory Gospel which reveals to us who Jesus is both humanly
speaking and also speaking about his divinity.

In the Book of Signs (chapters 1-12) we learn to believe in the very Person
of Jesus through the seven signs that lead us from a miracle into true
belief in the Person himself, Jesus the Word made flesh. (John 1:14). Thus
Jesus' works also demonstrate his saving acts, his doing of the will of his
Father, and his great compassion for those who invoke his name and need his
help. These I AM statements are symbolic words that reach out to all
peoples who can relate to symbols that are meaningful for all time: light,
life, bread, life-giving waters, way, truth,etc. John thereby can touch all
types of people through these symbolic phrases that Jesus uses in the most
lofty and theological of the Gospels.

Jesus is so intimately united to the Father that he and the Father are one.
"Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father in me or else believe
because of the works I do." This summarizes the theme of faith (through the
works Jesus does) and love (through his love and unity with the Father).
A reminder for us to recall the Holy Name of Jesus is found in the prayer,
" Blessed be the Holy Name of Jesus." Amen. Alleluiah!