“…IN THE NAME OF JESUS” AND “…CHRIST SHOULD SUFFER”

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“…IN THE NAME OF JESUS” AND “…CHRIST SHOULD SUFFER”

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IN THE NAME OF JESUS

♥ All the readings of today speak about the ‘Name of Jesus’. The RESPONSORIAL PSALM says “How great is your name, O Lord.” The COLLECT of today also speaks about ‘confessing the name of Jesus’.

♥ In Palin (Miching, Lendigai, and Chambang area), I was asked few questions that helped me to meditate on the Word of God of today. Their questions were:

1. Should there vision, prophesy and miracle in the Catholic church? (It is because they see it in the revival church)

2. How is that people are cured from their sickness, pain and suffering when the revivals and people of other denominations pray but the same does not happen when a catholic priest prays.

♥ It is true like any other human beings; people of Arunachal Pradesh are also facing sicknesses, pain and suffering. There is no doubt about it.

♥ It is the NAME OF JESUS that makes all the difference. It is He who should get the merit and not the catholic or the revival who prays to Jesus. It is very clear in the readings of today. By this I am not telling that the Catholics and the revivals are same.

♥ I told them that the visions, prophesy and miracles should not be forced upon. If God gives it is well and good. If he does not give it is also okay. Jesus scolded the Pharisees who were looking only for signs and miracles. He even scolded Thomas who wanted to put his finger in the holes made by the nails. God performs miracles, gives us vision when our faith becomes weak. We cannot control the Spirit for it blows wherever it wills. It can give gifts to anybody. Different gifts are given to different people. There is no doubt about it.

♥ In the first reading, Peter is telling the people of Israel that it is not because of their POWER or because of their HOLINESS that the man is cured but by the faith in the name of Jesus. (Acts 3:12-16)

♥ I would like to quote some passages that speak about the “NAME OF JESUS”

♥ Act 4:12 RSV “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is NO OTHER NAME under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Act 4:12 RSV).

♥Philippians 2:9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, ¹⁰ that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, ¹¹ and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Phi 2:9-11 RSV)

♥ John 14:13 Whatever you ask in my name, I will do it, that the Father may be glorified in the Son; ¹⁴ if you ask anything in my name, I will do it. (Jn 14:13-14 RSV)

♥ Luke 10:17 The seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!" (Lk 10:17 RSV)

♥ Romans 10:13 For, "every one who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved." (Rom 10:13 RSV)

♥ Mark 16:17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; (Mar 16:17 RSV)

♥ Acts 3:6 But Peter said, "I have no silver and gold, but I give you what I have; in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk." (Act 3:6 RSV)

♥ Mark 9:38 John said to him, "Teacher, we saw a man casting out demons in your name, and we forbade him, because he was not following us." (Mk 9:38 RSV)

♥ So many songs/bhajans are composed on the name of Jesus, sacraments are administered in the name of Jesus. Joseph Mario says that when he took the name of Jesus a kind of ELECTRIC CURRENT passed through his body and he who was almost dead was able to run from his father and save himself. And today he is a great preacher; preaching in the name of Jesus. One of the prayers that I learned during my first communion is: “Thank you Jesus, praise you Jesus” I still use this prayer. It is so beautiful

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“ …JESUS WOULD SUFFER…”

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♥ The second part of my reflection is on suffering–Suffering of Jesus and our suffering.

♥ We all have suffering in our life.

♥ Buddha was disturbed with this reality. We are all disturbed with it. People of Arunachal Pradesh are disturbed with this reality.

♥ I am quite convinced that God gives us suffering with a purpose. He did not spare his own beloved son in this regard.

♥ Matthew 26:39 And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt” (Mt 26:39 RSV). Jesus had to drink it (Cross). We are quite fresh with this reality of Jesus suffering after the Lenten season.

♥ Matthew 16:23 When Peter told Jesus that he should not suffer he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me; for you are not on the side of God, but of men” (Mt 16:23 RSV).

♥ 2 Samuel 16:10 But the king said, “What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? If he is cursing because the LORD has said to him, ‘Curse David,’ who then shall say, ‘Why have you done so?’” (2Sa 16:10 RSV)

♥ 2 Corinthians 12:7 And to keep me from being too elated by the abundance of revelations, a THORN was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, to harass me, to keep me from being too elated. ⁸ Three times I besought the Lord about this that it should leave me; ⁹ but he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” I will all the more gladly boast of my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (2Cor 12:7 RSV)

♥ God is ever close to those who suffer. He said that when you have fed the hungry you have fed me (Mt 25:35). Jesus is in the hungry, in those who suffer.

♥ Exodus 3:7 Then the LORD said, “I have seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters; I know their sufferings” (Ex 3:7 RSV).

♥ Job 2: 7-10  So Satan left the presence of Yahweh. He struck Job down with malignant ulcers from the sole of his foot to the top of his head. ⁸ Job took a piece of pot to scrape himself, and went and sat among the ashes.⁹ Then his wife said to him, “Why persist in this integrity of yours? Curse God and die.” ¹⁰ “That is how a fool of a woman talks,” Job replied. “If we take happiness from God's hand, must we not take sorrow too?” And in all this misfortune Job uttered no sinful word (Job 2:7-10 NJB).

♥ Being thrown to the Lions to be eaten, IGNATIUS OF ANTIOCH said: “I will become worthy bread in the sight of God.”

♥ Jesus is telling us today: Take up your daily cross and follow me.

♥ Moments of suffering, are moments of grace. May our daily suffering bring us closer to God and to one another.

♥ SICKNESS: It is a moment of grace for the parents. They get a chance to work out together (husband and wife); they get a chance to love the child/ member they could not do so. It is also a time for the child to experience that the parents really love him/her. It is also a moment of grace for the entire Christian community of a particular village. They get a chance to come together to pray for that sick member. Contribute financial help and so on and so forth.