Student Daily Reflection

The power of a name is remarkable. It encompasses so much of who a person is within themselves as well as how the exterior world defines them. It is of such high importance that expectant parents take nine months toiling through books and suggestions in hopes of perfection. As we know from other scripture, the naming of John the Baptist and Jesus was so critical that God Himself selected the names and revealed them to their parents. And here again in the second reading we encounter the power of name, especially of the name Jesus Christ.

Within this letter of St. Paul’s we come across the acclamation given to Jesus the Son by God the Father due to His sacrifice and His obedience. It was from Jesus’ lowliness and humility, His coming as the servant to all mankind, that He is so exalted. It is from the power of Jesus’ actions, witnessed both within the blessed Trinity and to the exterior world, that the power of His name arose, the power of a name that has casted demons out, provided miracles, and supplied His Church with the seven sacred Sacraments. The name of Jesus has so much power, that as St. Paul wrote, “every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth.”

Every knee! Every being in heaven, every person on earth, and every being in hell, everyone will bend due to the power of Jesus’ name, even Satan and his minions. Yet how often in our daily life do we recognize the power of our Savior’s name? How often do we bend our knee when we hear His name? On the flip side of that though, how often do we take His name in vain? How often do we use it to express anger or disbelief instead of joy and gratitude? We know from the Ten Commandments we should not take God’s name in vain, is not Jesus the second being of the Trinity?

When we hold something sacred and close to our heart, we do not want it belittled or tarnished by everyday use or by using it in offensiveness. If we truly hold what our Savior did for us as something valued and divine, then we should do everything in our power to honor that gift. We should not be afraid to change our ways or to even ask others around us to change theirs. If we undeniably believe in our Jesus and His life, than every moment of our lives should be a testimony to that, especially in the words we use and the way in which we react to the words around us.