Most Holy Name of Jesus Homily (Extraordinary Form)

Today we celebrate the Most Holy Name of Jesus. 

Throughout scripture God gives a name to different individuals which reveals to us the importance that they will play in the course of salvation history.

Adam = man of the earth

Eve = mother of all the living

Abraham = father of many nations

Peter = the rock

The name Jesus means "savior." We see this name given through the Angel Gabriel to both Mary and Joseph.

To Mary in the Gospel of Saint Luke: "Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus."

To Joseph in the Gospel of Saint Matthew: "She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

Finally this revelation from the angel is brought to its completion through the naming of this child in Saint Luke's Gospel: "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."

Philippians instructs us to how we are to respond to such a Holy Name as that of Jesus: "Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

For the Jew the name of God is to always be held in high esteem. We too join in giving God this proper glory each and every time that we come to recite the "Our Father" for it is here that we proclaim "hallowed by thy name."

Within the Roman liturgy instruction has been given to the priest to bow his head each and every single time that the name of "Jesus" is proclaimed within the Mass. The bowing of one's head at the proclamation of such a wondrous name allows us to bow in humility towards the one who would came to humble Himself upon the cross.

Through the name of  "Jesus" we come to acknowledge the savior who has come to dwell among us. This savior is the Incarnate Son of God who came to dwell among us. During the Christmas season we proclaim this great reality as we come to give proper adoration and homage to such a Holy Name as that of "Jesus."

In the Ordinary Form of the Roman Rite the Solemnity of the Epiphany is celebrated today. In this celebration we acknowledge the Magi who traveled to proclaim Christ as Prophet, King, and priest to the world. They traveled and where able to give reverence to such a wondrous name as that of "Jesus."

The saints have also come to proclaim Christ in such a way for they have humbled themselves to this most wondrous of names. Through our acknowledgment of the name of "Jesus" we humble ourself before our savior. 

May the name of "Jesus" come to truly penetrate into our heart and soul and thus lead us onwards towards the Heavenly Kingdom for this child who has been born unto the world is God among us.