The name to call always

THAT’S Jesus. He is the Savior God who continues to be at

work in us (cfr. Phil 2,13). He is always there for us. All we have to

do is call his name.

  

            As St. Paul said, “God has highly exalted and bestowed the

name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee

should bow, 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.” (Phil 2,9-11).

  

            In the Collect of the Mass of the Most Holy Name of Jesus,

we pray that God gives us the mercy we implore, “so that all may know

there is no other name to be invoked but the name of your Only

Begotten Son.”

  

            We have to develop the habit of calling on the name of

Jesus always, both in good times and in bad, because in the end, he is

really what matters in any situation we may find ourselves in.

  

            His ways may be different and even in conflict with what

we want, but he always listens to us and resolves things in the best

way for our own good. He will never fail us. But we just have to be

game enough to go through his mysterious and inscrutable ways. Yes,

there will be suffering but he has assured us: “In this world you will

have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (Jn 16,33)

  

            Let’s remember that with his death and resurrection,

Christ already has conquered all evils and has resolved all our

problems, especially our grave mistakes and sins that can compromise

our eternal destiny. St. Paul expressed this truth of our faith when

he said: “God works all things together for the good of those who love

Him, who are called according to His purpose.” (Rom 8,28)

  

            The name Jesus means “God saves,” as can be gleaned from

that episode where Joseph was told in a dream to take Mary as his wife

who was found pregnant before they lived together.

  

            “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.” (Mt 1,20-21)

  

            Jesus, being God who became man for our sake, is always

with us, is always attentive to our needs, is always shaping us and

redeeming us so we can be patterned after him. We are meant to be

“alter Christus” because Christ is the perfect image that God has of

himself and we are supposed to be created in God’s image and likeness

as well.

  

            Even if Jesus is always with us, it is good that we always

call his name so that we can be always aware of our need for him. The

problem we have is that we tend to ignore and forget him, which is

just a step before we go against him. Without him, we find no meaning

in the difficulties, trials, failures and sins that we can commit.

  

            Let us develop the habit of calling his name to the point

that Jesus’ name is somehow mentioned with our every breath. That may

sound quixotic and fantastic, but if we have faith, it certainly can

be achieved. In fact, that is the ideal state to be in our life.

  

            Jesus has made everything available for us to be what we

ought to be: “alter Christus,” another Christ!