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.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
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Today we celebrate the Feast of the Most Holy Name of Jesus.
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Whenever someone is given a name in the bible, it means that person has given a special mission by God.
The name, “Jesus,” for example, comes from the Hebrew name Yeshua, meaning, “to deliver or to rescue.” Thus, Jesus will “rescue” God’s people from death.
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In the sacrament of Confirmation, we are also given a new name. It’s meant to signify either our purpose in life, or to acknowledge someone who’s inspired us on our journey of faith.
For example, my confirmation name is Francis after Saint Francis De Sales, who, wrote a book called An Introduction to the Devout Life.
He wrote this book to a fictional person named Philothea, meaning, “Lover of God.” It’s why I chose the name, Francis.
All I want to be in life is a, “lover of God.”
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Do you have a confirmation name? Or a favorite Saint?
How does that person inspire you?
Maybe it’s Francis of Assisi, the Patron Saint of animals. Or Thérèse of Lisieux, the Patron Saint of missionaries and the sick.
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This Feast of the Holy Name reminds that we all have a “name,” and by extension, a calling in life.
This is the testimony of John. When the Jews from Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to him to ask him, “Who are you?” He admitted and did not deny it, but admitted, “I am not the Christ.” So they asked him, “What are you then? Are you Elijah?” And he said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” He answered, “No.” So they said to him, “Who are you, so we can give an answer to those who sent us? What do you have to say for yourself?” He said: “I am the voice of one crying out in the desert, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as Isaiah the prophet said.” Some Pharisees were also sent. They asked him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ or Elijah or the Prophet?” John answered them, “I baptize with water; but there is one among you whom you do not recognize, the one who is coming after me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie.” This happened in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
The Gospel of the Lord.
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“Who are you?” This was what every Jew and scholar of the Law wanted to know about John the Baptist.
“Who are you? Why are you here? What’s your purpose?”
Questions we all ask about ourselves.
While the answer for each person is unique, there are four things we can all say about ourselves.
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We areloved by God. So loved that Jesus offers himself for us on a cross.
We areirreplaceable. There never has been and never will be another you. God makes each human being with a unique fingerprint, a singular combination of gifts, talents, personality, and purpose.
We are part of God’s family, the Church. Therefore, we are never alone; we are all parts of a greater whole.
We are adwelling place of the Holy Spirit. Through baptism, God makes his home within us. It’s this Spirit who teaches, guides, sanctifies, and supports us through life.
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So, “Who are you?”
We are unique, created with a singular purpose, like John the Baptist.
Take a few moments today to bring this to prayer. Ask the Lord to reveal why he created you – and what purpose he’s given you for this day.
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Image credits: (1) Man with question mark. Wyoming Department of Health. (2) John the Baptist in the Wilderness, Geertgen tot sint Jans (3) You are Unique, C-Life
The shepherds went in haste to Bethlehem and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known the message that had been told them about this child. All who heard it were amazed by what had been told them by the shepherds. And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them.
When eight days were completed for his circumcision, he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
The Gospel of the Lord.
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Maybe you’ve heard the old Chinese proverb, “Not one family can put a sign outside their home with the words: No Problems Here.”
Perhaps we experienced some tension with siblings or in-laws over the Christmas holiday.
But not one family, not even the Holy Family – Jesus, Mary, and Joseph – can say, “No problems here.”
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Consider the conditions Jesus, Mary, and Joseph experienced that first Christmas night.
They were homeless.
Imagine how stressful it must’ve been – feeling unwelcome, having a door shut in your face, giving birth to your child outside in a stable.
Suddenly, shepherds appear. While these men have come to praise the infant Jesus, it must’ve been difficult for Mary and Joseph to sacrifice what little privacy they had.
All of these things left Mary wondering, “What’s happened to me? To us? How will Joseph and I raise this miraculous child? Why was I chosen to be the Mother of God?”
She didn’t have all – or any – of the answers. As the Gospel tells us today, Mary, “kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart.” Meaning, she literally tried “stitching” the meaning of these events together.
Still, life becomes more – not less – complicated for them.
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After Christ’s birth, King Herod learns there’s a “newborn King,” so he issues a decree to kill every male child found under the age of two, ensuring his position as the one in power.
Imagine having just given birth, then you’re forced to flee your home because the king wants your son dead. After Joseph was warned in a dream to take Mary and Jesus to Egypt, he responds in faith.
But it must’ve left them wondering still, “Why us?”
Nobody dreams of being homeless, persecuted, or a refugee. Yet there they are, an improbable family of three struggling to survive.
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We hear nothing of the Holy Family until twelve years later, when Jesus gets separated from Mary and Joseph in the temple. They search for him for three days, and when they finally find him, they’re exhausted.
These become the first words that Mary ever says to Jesus in the Gospels: “Son, why have you done this to us?”
Every parent knows the fear of losing a child in a crowd. Mary and Joseph were no different.
The drama that unfolded that day, much like being shut out on Christmas night, reminds us that not one family, not even the Holy Family, can say, “No problems here.”
Mary, like us, can only try to stitch together the meaning of it all.
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Part of what makes the Holy Family “holy” – and relatable to us – is the fact that they endured all of their trials together.
The Gospels never describe Mary and Joseph in conflict; they don’t yell at each other, they don’t call each other names, they don’t blame each other, play passive aggressive, or force Jesus to take sides.
They endure everything together.
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This is, perhaps, an important reminder for us today.
There’s a world of difference between being stressed and divided. Every family is stressed from time to time. But that doesn’t mean that we have to be divided.
What causes tension in my family?
In what ways might I work to reduce it?
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Although it’s much easier said than done, there are three simple phrases that can build any family up, things I’m sure the Holy Family also said to each other:
Thank you. I love you. I’m sorry.
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Not one family, not even the Holy Family, can put a sign outside their home with the words, “No Problems Here.”
But they remind us that no matter what life throws at us, we can endure it all together.
Perhaps it’s best to conclude with that great priestly blessing we heard in our first reading, which I extend to you and your families as we begin a new year:
May the Lord bless you and keep you! May the Lord let his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you! May the Lord look upon you kindly and give you his peace! Amen.
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Image credits: (1) QuotesGram (2) The Holy Family, Giorgione (3) 90 Family Quotes, Today
