The Most Holy Name of Jesus - Weekday Homily Video

How are you doing with your New Year’s resolutions? Are you still going to the gym, drinking more water, using that calendar and diary system? It’s a fair question. We are three days into the New Year, and we’d all like to make some improvements.

Today as we celebrate the Most Holy Name of Jesus, we are reminded of the importance of not taking the Lord’s Name in vain. (The second commandment of the Ten Commandments.) I know people will say they didn’t mean any disrespect and that it’s just a habit. But, from the time I was a young boy, I can remember hearing my grandfather use words like “jeepers” when he was frustrated about something or someone, instead of the Name of Jesus.

In fact, I never heard my grandfather use any type of profanity, which is pretty amazing, considering he rubbed elbows with all sorts of people in his laundry business and among his sports buddies. To me, it’s a reminder of the important lessons we learn when we’re young, especially from our parents and grandparents, but also our aunts and uncles and even older brothers and sisters.

Reverencing the Name of Jesus

They, and now we, like John the Baptist, have the ability to point to Jesus in a way that shows reverence and faith in God. By reverencing the Name of Jesus, in using it to pray, to make the sign of the Cross, we teach about holiness lived in the everyday moments of life, even those when we lose our tempers.

Yesterday, Father Boby preached about the importance of honoring the name we have been given in his story of the soldier who fell asleep on night watch only to be discovered by his commander who shared the same name. The commander told the soldier to either change his conduct or change his name.

My brothers and sisters, if we want to honor Jesus, and we slip into taking His Name in vain, then we need to change as well.

Every Knee Shall Bend

For as St. Paul writes, “At the Name of Jesus, every knee shall bend … and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.” Let us keep the Lord’s Name holy and remember the power of the example we give to others in how we speak and pray!

May God bless you and your families this holy day!

• Today’s Readings

• Father David's inspirational homily was recorded live during Mass at the Father Peyton Center this morning. Please view the video on our Facebook page. (You don't need a Facebook account to view.) 

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