The Man with the Swishy Jacket. Fisherman Sandals Man. Cane Lady. Wheelchair Man. There are various people we see regularly as we attend daily Mass at various churches. We see these people and we know just a little bit about them. Book Man is obviously very studious because he always wears a cardigan and carries a book. Ciborium Lady apparently has duties involving the golden vessel she often carries to Mass. The Man with the Yellow Rosary always prays before the statues of Our Lord and Our Lady, St. Joseph and St. Catherine before entering the Sanctuary. We see these people often yet we don’t actually know them – we don’t even know their names.
Today is the Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus, and Monsignor spoke in his homily of the importance of each of our names. It is who we are. Not what we are, or what we do, but who we are. God knows each of us, and he knows us each by name. And we know Him by His Holy Name. Isn’t that wondrous? The Name that is in itself a prayer. The Name that shall cause every knee to bend. The Name that is the hope of the despairing, the comfort for the hurting, the help for all those in need. How often it is that when there is some sort of immediate peril – a sick baby is having a coughing spell or the toddler is about to crash – and there is just a moment to utter a plea of a prayer. We whisper the Holy Name. We bow our heads at the sound. Conversely, to say it irreverently is to sin.
How wonderful that we are able to echo Our Lady’s words –
The Lord has done great things for me, and holy is His Name!
