Name

 

The Spiritual Waiting Room

Name

He   Saves

Emulate   Self-Emptying   Servanthood

Jesus Christ Is Lord

Bended Knee

(Photo and poem by Kathy McNamara)

Scripture:   Philippians 2: 9 to 11

Because Jesus was obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross, God has exalted Him and given Him a NAME that is above every other name.

At the name of Jesus, every knee should bend, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.

Reflection

Have you ever thought about why your parents gave you the name that they chose for you?

I was named John after my father and grandfather and passed that name on to our oldest son. I always felt a deep connection with both of them. 

I learned later that my name means God is gracious. I have always felt the strong influence of God's grace in my life---truly Amazing Grace! It is also the name of two of my favorite people from the Bible, John the Baptist and John the Apostle.

The name Jesus is special to all of us who believe that He is the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity who became man for us. The name Jesus means The Lord Saves.

Jesus became man to offer us the gift (the grace) of salvation. Jesus wants us to live with Him forever and to experience eternal happiness.

Jesus shows us the path to happiness through the life He lived. We are called to emulate His example of humility and faithfulness to the call that God gave Him.

Jesus did this through His self-emptying. He did not come trying to accumulate wealth and power for Himself. He came instead to serve the poor and the outcasts of His day. He did not care that He was ridiculed and mocked for doing this. He knew that this was the right thing to do. We have to serve those who are most in need.

Because of whom He was and what He did, we proclaim that Jesus is Lord. Many object to this term because of its patriarchal overtones (as in Lord of the manor). Many lords in former times exploited women and those in the underclass. 

Jesus is Lord in an entirely different way. He has come to serve others, to wash their feet. He does not want to suppress or stymie us but to shower us with His Love in every way possible.

Our knee is bended at the name of Jesus out of respect and acknowledgement of what Jesus has done for all of us. 

I always picture Jesus approaching me as I am on bended knee and lifting me up into his arms and telling me how much He loves me and how much He will always be with me.

His name heals and helps.

He comes to lift us up!

1. What is the history behind the name you were given?

2. How do you feel when you hear the name of Jesus?

3. What do you think when you hear the term, Lord? 

4. How do you picture the servanthood of Jesus?

5. What do you see as you meditate on Kathy's photo?

(Scripture adaptation, reflection, and questions by John J. McNamara)