July 8, 2018 - Proper 9B

Lectionary Readings

In the name of the holy, glorious, and undivided ☩ Trinity. Amen.

            I remember when I was going through the discernment process to be ordained as a priest and was serving as an intern at a church in Winston-Salem. I was asked to lead a program around questions related to end of life issues. One of my duties was to help people in preparing a document about their intentions so that their families wouldn’t have to be making so many important decisions as they were in the grieving process. Naturally, part of the discussion involved questions about cremations, caskets, and funeral homes. So I asked a local funeral home to come and do a presentation at this parish.

January 1, 2017 - Holy Name

Lectionary Readings

In the name of God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

            “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose / by any other name would smell as sweet.” That famous line, spoken by Juliet, is a question that philosophers and linguists have wrestled with for centuries. I come down on the side that believes that language shapes our experience of the world. Some languages are constructed differently and therefore shape their cultures in substantive ways. If you’ve studied a foreign language, you know that in addition to learning vocabulary and grammar, if you’re going to be proficient, you must also learn the worldview of the language. So I would disagree with Juliet, and as Romeo and Juliet plays out, it becomes clear that, indeed, names do matter.

            Today we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Name. Most years, when you come to church on a Sunday in the Christmas season we celebrate either the First or the Second Sunday of Christmas. But not this year, as January 1 falls on a Sunday. As the Prayer Book directs, the Feast of the Holy Name takes precedence over the regular Sunday readings. Perhaps you came this morning, excited to sing more Christmas hymns. And we will sing a couple during Communion, but the emphasis of this day is on the name of Jesus. As I often tell people, if the Church won’t keep its own calendar, we can’t expect society to do it for us. So, today our attention is turned to the name that is above all names: Jesus.

            This feast is rooted in Scripture, though there is only one verse about it – as we heard read: “After eight days had passed, it was time to circumcise the child; and he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.” It was, and still is, the common practice to circumcise Jewish males on the 8^th day after their birth. For those of you keeping track, that makes this the 8^th day of Christmas. In addition to the circumcision, the child was named. In older traditions, this day was called the Feast of the Circumcision. But that name isn’t at all the most appealing of names. If I had advertised this service as the “Feast of the Circumcision,” you might have attended with a bit more trepidation.

            But both aspects are important to our keeping this feast. The fact that Jesus was circumcised on the 8^th day, as prescribed by Leviticus, firmly cements Jesus’ identity as Jewish. Since Abraham, the sign of the covenant for Jews has been male circumcision. Now, this isn’t a sermon on circumcision – if you want to read more about it, and why scholars think it became a custom of the Jewish people, then feel free to read up on it. Rather, the focus is the theology of circumcision. The practice, quite literally, makes Jewish males different, physically different.

            We don’t know why it is, but God chooses to save all people through one people. Through the Jewish people and the nation of Israel, God becomes intimately known and God’s salvation for the world comes through them. This was a shock in the time of the Old Testament – as each nation had its own god who would provide for them, but there wasn’t really a focus on people beyond their tribe. But the God of Israel is different. As God tells Abraham, “I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing… in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” Through one specific people, God chooses to save all people.

            This is what Jesus’ circumcision is about – linking him to this promise of God. Jesus does not come to abolish, supersede, or supplant the Torah and the Prophets, but rather to bring them to fuller fruition. So it is crucial to remember that Jesus is a part of God’s on-going salvation for the world through Israel. And we see this same dynamic in Jesus – that God chooses to save all people through one person.

            This is what Jesus’ name means: “God saves.” “Jesus” is the translation of the Hebrew name “Joshua” into Greek. And that name is built with two Hebrew words – Ya, which is part of God’s proper name; and yasha, which means to “save” or “help.” When Jesus is given this name, it fulfills a promise. The angel comes to Mary and tells her that they are to name the child Jesus. By doing so, it signals that Mary and Joseph are faithful and obedient to God. And the name also signals that Jesus is a part of the on-going salvation of God.

            There is, of course, great power in Jesus’ name. That name has been used for thousands of years in exorcisms and prayers against evil spirits. Nearly every prayer that is used concludes with some version of “this we prayer in Jesus’ name.” Jesus’ name is indeed a powerful one; though he goes by many other names in Scripture: Lamb of God, Emmanuel, King of kings, Son of God, Lord of lords, Bread of Life, Word, Lord, Alpha and Omega, Good Shepherd, Light of the World, Great Physician, Prince of Peace, Messiah, Christ, Rabbi, Cornerstone, Savior, Great High Priest, Prophet, the Resurrection and Life, the Way, Truth, and Life. Which resonates most deeply with you? I invite you to ponder those names of Jesus this week, seeing which is the most helpful and true to you. Think about why that particular name of Jesus strikes you. Pray to God for the guidance and wisdom to go deeper into that name.

            Whichever name of Jesus is the most meaningful, today we celebrate his given name. It is a powerful name. You might know that most Jews and many Christians do not pronounce the proper name of God, which God spoke to Moses. Instead of pronouncing that name, they say “Lord.” But as God comes to us in Jesus, God becomes more fully known, and God’s name becomes pronounceable – Jesus. And this is a name that isn’t just a nice symbol, or a name full of theological depth, but Jesus’ name is operative. That is, Jesus’ name actually saves. To turn Shakespeare’s phrase, a Messiah by any other name wouldn’t be as sweet.

            Do you know the story of your name? Why were you named your name? In the worldview of the Bible, names are extremely important. Names mean something, they are even prescriptive. So, for example, “Abraham” means “father of many;” “Moses” means “drawn out,” alluding both to how he was drawn out of a basket in the Nile and how he would draw out the Hebrew people from slavery in Egypt; and “Ruth” means “companion,” as she was a companion to Naomi.

            Names in Scripture are much more than names, they are blessings. A blessing in the Bible isn’t at all what we think of when we think of a blessing. A Biblical blessing isn’t wishing someone well, it isn’t giving them permission, and it isn’t an affirmation. Rather, a blessing is the passing on of power and prosperity. Think of Jacob and Esau and how their father, Isaac, only has one blessing to give. Blessings aren’t unlimited because they actually bestow something.

            What makes the name of Jesus so powerful is that his name, and therefore the blessing of God’s salvation, is given to each of us in Baptism. It’s why we Baptize in the name of the Father, Son, and Spirit. It’s why in the book of Acts when  it becomes known that a group of people was baptized in John the Baptist’s community, but not in the name of Jesus, they are immediately baptized again in the name of Jesus. And so Jesus’ name becomes a blessing for us – because in it we take on God’s name.

            We see this idea of names and blessings going together in the reading from Numbers. God says “So they shall put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.” You probably recognized that blessing, as it’s one that I often use. It’s called the “Priestly blessing,” as it is given by God to Moses to give to Aaron, the priest, to say over the people. This blessing is actually the oldest bit of the Bible that we’ve ever found. That isn’t to say it’s the oldest part of the Bible, but of all the fragments of Scripture that we’ve discovered, the oldest one is this blessing – showing just how important this blessing has been to the faithful through the generations.

            The blessing indicates that God will bless us and keep us – protecting us, being with us, giving us our daily bread. The blessing shows that God bestows upon us the light of revelation, joy, and warmth and this gives us the grace of God’s mercy, love, and forgiveness. And the blessing tells us that God lifts up his countenance, that is, his gaze, upon us. God sees us, and this gives us peace. It’s a beautiful blessing, and it all comes to be because it puts God’s name on us.

            This is what Jesus’ name does for us through our Baptism – it actually makes us a part of God, and through that, we are blessed. Again, this blessing might not be what the world calls a “blessing,” that is, only good and pleasant things. But it is the blessing of salvation, a blessing that promises God’s presence at all times, a blessing that means that joy can be found in brokenness, a blessing that is built upon God’s faithfulness.

            I want to conclude by giving you a bit of homework, and since today is New Year’s Day, I strongly commend it to you as a resolution for this near year. As a way to reflect on the name of Jesus, to know more fully the blessings of your Baptism, to be aware of God’s faithful promises of peace and joy, I commend the Jesus Prayer to you. The Jesus Prayer dates back to the 5^th century in Egypt. It’s a very short prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me. There are some variations to it, if you like. You can lengthen it by including one or more extra phrases, such as “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” But even at its shortest form it is a prayer used by Christians all over the world.

            The way to use the prayer is simply to repeat it to yourself, constantly. As you sit in traffic, as you approach the altar for Communion, as you run on the treadmill, as you walk the dog, as you cook dinner, as a part of your prayer life and meditation. Just whisper to yourself “Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me.” If you want do it in a more contemplative fashion, you can say “Lord Jesus Christ” as you breathe in, inviting God more fully into your life, and as you breathe out, you can say “have mercy on me,” indicating your prayer for mercy throughout your life and world.

            The Jesus Prayer is a great way to meditate on the Holy Name, and to internalize God’s love, peace, and joy. Some who have used this prayer say that by using it regularly, it becomes second nature, that God “happens” in you. A well-known proponent of his prayer is the former Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, who has said “It is not a magical invocation, but a vehicle to detach you from distraction and draws you into the mind of Christ.” If you want to learn more about the prayer, the book The Way of the Pilgrim is based on it.

            This year, if you seek to go deeper in your faith, if you seek to know more fully the peace of God which surpasses all understanding, if you seek God’s blessings for you and those around you, if you want to experience the power of Jesus’ name, I commend to you the Jesus Prayer. Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me. Try it out, so that the same mind will be in you that was in Christ Jesus. Amen.

February 28, 2016 - Lent 3C

Lectionary Readings

In the name of God, amen.

            God. We use that word all the time: sometimes in discussions about religion, sometimes in prayer, sometimes in vain. But how often do we stop and consider what we mean when we say “God”? What do you think of that word “God”? Is it provocative, troubling, overused, comforting? How has your view of God shifted through the years?

January 1, 2012- Holy Name

In the name of God- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

            What is in a name? Shakespeare famously wrote “that which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” Proverbs 22:1 says “a great name is to be chosen rather than great riches.” And so it is. We all know the power of a name. Last names such as Bush, Vanderbilt, or Kennedy all carry great power with them. Some names even become part of the language- Einsteinian. We’ve lost the sense of definition of names in our culture. But often in the Bible we read about people whose names are titles. Abraham means “father of many,” Isaac means “laughter,” because of the preposterous situation of a son being born to the very old Abraham and Sarah. Names in the Bible are powerful, as they are titles of definition. And titles in our world are important too. Look at a business card, everyone these days is a vice president of something. We like big titles, just as the people of the Bible liked big names.

            The question of a name is really about how do you see yourself? How do you define yourself? If you could choose one word to describe yourself, what would it be? Names don’t really capture that anymore. Robert is a German name, meaning “fame” and “bright.” I won’t complain about those attributes, but I think I agree with Shakespeare, a name is just a name. I’d like to think that if my name were Thomas, Steve or anything else, that I’d be the same person. But the idea of a name in the Bible, when we talk about the name of God, Jesus, or any person in the Bible, name really isn’t the right translation. We’re really talking about their character, their identity, their title. So names, in that Biblical sense, really are important. The Biblical name is perhaps what you’d put on your tombstone, or what you’d want future generations to remember about you.

            I think it is fitting that we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Name today. It is a tradition that dates back to at least the 14^th century. We commemorate of the circumcision of Jesus eight days after his birth; this was the time in Jewish custom when a child was named, or given a sense of identity. And in being named, they officially became a part of the family and an heir of the promise God made to Abraham. Different churches celebrate this day at different times, and it’s fairly rare in the Episcopal Church. Holy Name always falls on January 1, and January 1 does not often happen on a Sunday. New Year’s Day is a great time for us to be considering the ideas of name and identity.

            Everyone is talking about resolutions, which, in essence, say “how do I want to be different this year?” “How do I want to be known differently.” In the Biblical sense, “how do I change my name, or how do I live into my name in a truer way.” As we begin the year, we think about what we want to accomplish, what we look forward to, what we hope to avoid. Sometimes we even name the year. The year of self-control, the year of exercising more, the year of traveling more, the year of retiring. As we begin another year, what name will you claim for yourself?

            The name that was claimed for the son born to Mary was “Jesus.” Jesus was actually a very common name; it wasn’t a special name. Jesus is the Hebrew form of “Joshua,” which was just as common then as it is today. Jesus is a fitting name though, as it means “God saves.” There are the traditions of casting out demons simply by using the name of Jesus. I’m sure we’ve all known people who in moments of fear or being at the end of their rope repeat the name of Jesus to themselves. In charismatic circles, chanting the name of Jesus will ward off evil spirits. Jesus’ name is something people have been willing to fight for and to die for. Philippians says that at the name of Jesus, ever knee should bend. It is a name taken in vain often, but also a name given great respect. There is great power and healing power in the name of Jesus.

            But, as I said, Jesus was a common name and the actual name of things isn’t nearly as important as the identity of a thing. And the identity of Jesus as God salvation is what truly matters. The person of Jesus of Nazareth is what we venerate and follow as Christians. What the name of Jesus communicates to us is God blessing.

Jesus is the agent of God love, God grace, God redemption, God presence with us. And that is why the name of Jesus is so important- it reminds us of those blessings. Christmas is the season where we celebrate the rebirth of hope, where we celebrate that God has become incarnate in our world. This is unique in Christianity. No other religion claims that God, the creator and redeemer of all, the source and end of everything, has taken on the flesh of Creation and joined it. And that is a true blessing. This earth is blessed through Jesus’ presence on it, and so are we. We breathe the same air that Jesus did, we walk on the same earth, we awake each day to the light of the same sun.

The blessing of the Incarnation is in the name of Emmanuel, which means “God with us.” It was the yearning of the Hebrew people, and it is our deepest desire- to know that we are not alone, to know that we are always being held in God hand, to know that we are redeemed. As I’ve said in other sermons, what God gives us is maximum support, with minimum protection. The blessing of God does not mean there will be no pain, no loss, no depression, no illnesses, no layoffs, no deaths; but what the blessing of God presence does mean is that we will not be alone in those things. It means that God will be there to redeem the situation.

This connection between names and blessing is found in our Old Testament reading today as well. This passage is often called the priestly or Aaronic, as in Moses’ brother Aaron, blessing. God says to the people “so shall they put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.” Being united to God in God name is a true blessing. In our baptisms, in our self-identity as Christians, we receive this blessing through God name.

In Judaism, this priestly blessing is extremely important and sacred. It is recited only by priests and there are many customs attached to its usage to ensure it is used reverently and properly. There is also an interesting bit of trivia out there about the hand signal used in the priestly blessing. Leonard Nimoy, better known as Spock from Star Trek, grew up in a very religious Jewish household, and he used a variation of the hand sign and priestly blessing in the show. In Jewish custom, the priest makes this sign when pronouncing the words. So you can see how it got adapted to “live long and prosper,” which is a sort of paraphrase of the whole blessing.

The priestly blessing is a beautiful prayer. God tells Aaron to use these words instead of human words. There are no ifs, no perhaps, no maybes in this blessing. It is definite- God will do these things. And throughout this passage from Numbers, the emphatic “I” is used to stress that God loves and cares for God people and will bless them. There are three movements to the priestly blessing. The first is that God will bless us and keep us. These are words tied to ideas of sustaining us. These are the words used to talk about the blessing of harvests, land, and descendents. Secondly, God will make his face to shine upon us and be gracious to us. It is a blessing of God presence with us, that God light will shine on us, despite the darkness of the life. It asks that God be gracious to us and that God show us mercy. And finally, it asks that God show his countenance upon us, giving us peace. In Hebrew, the word for peace is shalom, which is full of meaning. It is used throughout the Bible to mean such things as prosperity, longevity, happiness, safety, security, good health, friendship, well-being, and tranquility. Like the Lord’s prayer, it is a simple prayer, but all-inclusive and full of beautiful language. And at its conclusion, God says that this prayer of priestly blessing puts God name on them and blesses them.

You all go by many different names, but perhaps our names in the Biblical sense would be “children of God.” And in being named that, we locate ourselves in relationship to God. This is a relationship of being blessed. This name is a blessing of inward grace. The world might call you a lot of things, it will judge you, you will be called names, in the negative sense. But those are not your names, you are not defined by those terms, or even the attributes you put on yourself. Instead, know that you are the child of God. That is your name. And in this name, you are blessed.

And, of course, there is the other side of the coin. Bearing God name means that we have a mission to fulfill. This is not a blessing to enjoy in our own little corner. This is not a secret name that we carry, but it is to be proclaimed to the world. This name that we have is a call to action. In bearing God name we will be blessed, but we will also be challenged. Our example is Jesus. He bore a very special name, the name of God Messiah, of God Incarnate- and he was greatly blessed in that. But Jesus also shed blood, sweat, and tears for his name. He did not hide his name. When it would have been politically or personally expedient to change his name, he stuck with it. Though he only had minimum protection, he was constantly blessed with maximum support; and the same is true for us.

This New Year’s Day, as we consider our resolutions, as we contemplate on the upcoming year and the names we’d like to go by- let us remember our most basic name- “child of God.” And in that name, we will be blessed with God presence, God love, God peace. Remember each and every day this year- you are blessed.

Amen.