Graft in our hearts the love of Thy Name

Seventh Sunday after Trinity, Sunday, July 14, 2013

Fr. Todd Bragg

St. Margaret Anglican Church

Indianapolis, Indiana

"Graft in our hearts the love of Thy Name." (Opening Collect from Mass of the Seventh Sunday after Trinity)

Typically, you know that I either base my homily on the Epistle of the day or the Gospel of the day.  When I begin working on my sermon, I read through the readings and normally something will jump out at me and this will be the foundation of my sermon or homily.  This week, what jumped out and grabbed me was the opening collect:  "Lord of all power and might, Who are the author and giver of all good things:  Graft in our hearts the love of Thy Name . . ."

Now I went to Dictionary.com and looked up the word "name" and this is what was listed:  "a word or combination of words by which a person, place, or thing, a body or class, or any object of thought is designated, called, or known."  This sounds pretty reasonable.  We give names to people or animals or objects which help to identify it  or designate it.  Those of you who are parents who have ever had to go through your children begging you to get some sort of a pet . . .  whether it be a dog, a cat, or a hamster,  . . . . after you finally give in, then you have to give a name to properly designate the pet.  Typically, the name should fit the animal.  Even going all the way back to Adam, this seems to be the norm:  "And out of the ground the Lord formed every beast  . . . . and every fowl . . .  and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them:  and whatsoever Adam called every living creature that was the name thereof."  (Genesis 2:19)  Thus, the naming of an animal helps to designate or describe the animal in question.

Now, a name is very important not only for animals but also for people as well.  Again, you parents when you had your children and it was time for you to pick out a name, did you open up the phone book and put your finger on the first name that you found?  Of course not, you put thought into because you wanted to pick an appropriate name.  Further on in the Book of Genesis, we hear the following, God speaking to Abram:  "And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great and thou shalt be a blessing." (Genesis 12:2)  Elsewhere we read:  "Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but they name shall be Abraham: for a father of many nations have I made thee." (Genesis 17:5)  God shows us that a name can be very important because it not only designates but also represents the person or thing it is naming.  God changed Abram's name to Abraham because the name signified the importance given to him by God.

Now, we all know that the Jewish people had great respect for God.  In fact, their respect and awe was so profound that they would not utter the Name of God because they felt unworthy to even utter His Name.  "Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord Thy God in vain: for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh His Name in vain."  (Exodus 20:7)  Also, we hear the following:  " . . . neither shalt thou profane the Name of Thy God:  I Am The Lord." (Leviticus 18:21)  Now I do realize that I am preaching to the choir and we do not take the Name of the Lord in vain but how many times do you hear on TV or in a movie, someone taking the Lord's Name in vain?  How often will you be out in public at your local store or shopping mall and hear someone take the Lord's Name in vain?  We are instructed NOT to take the Lord's Name in vain because in so doing we are dishonoring God.  We speak His Name out of respect out of the love and respect that we hold for God in our hearts.

One of the traditions or customs that I am so happy that we as Anglicans still hold on to is bowing our head at the Name of Jesus.  So many churches unfortunately around the world have let go of this tradition and it is really sad, if you ask me.  What is so important about bowing your head when the Lord's Name is mentioned, you may ask?  Because when we bow our heads, it is a reminder to us and to anybody else who notices that this Name is sacred, that it is special, that we reverence that Name above all others.

Now, I tried to compile a short list of the various names attributed to Jesus in Holy Scripture.  Keep in mind that this is just a small sampling because there are many, many more names that I could have written down but here are a few:  Emmanuel (Isaiah 7:14); Wonderful Counselor, and Mighty God (Isaiah 9:6);  Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6); Stem of Jesse (Isaiah 11:1); The Lord Our Righteousness (Jeremiah 23:6); The Messiah (Daniel 9:25); Holy One (Psalm 16:10); The Beloved Son of God (St. Matthew 3:17); Son of the Most High (St. Mark 5:7); God's Holy Child Jesus (Acts 4:27); The Lamb of God (St. John 1:29)  As you can see, all of these various names designate and symbolize the greatness of Our Risen Saviour.  Each title / designation helps to describe a particular attribute of Our Blessed Saviour.

Again, Our Lord's Name is important because the Name itself designates Who He is.  "And she shall call His Name Jesus for He shall save His people from their sins." (St. Matthew 1:21)  Even in its' roots, the Name Jesus means "Saviour" and "God Our Help."  We know that each time we speak this Precious Name, we are acknowledging Our Blessed Saviour for Who He is and What He is:  Our Saviour . . . Our Messiah . . . the One Who Saves . . . God Our Help!  Each and every time we speak this Holy Name, we are acknowledging the greatness of Our God.

"At the Name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in Heaven and on earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord . . ." (Philippians 2:10-11)  We owe our Lord respect and honor.  We owe Him our loyalty.  We owe Him our love.  We owe Him these things because there is no-one like Him in the whole world.  "Neither is there salvation in any other (name): for there is none other name under Heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."  (Acts 4:12)  It is the Name Jesus that means so much  . . .  it is the Name Jesus that means Salvation . . . it is the Name Jesus that is owed more respect than to anyone or anything else in the world.  As great as St. Mary, and St. Joseph, and St. Peter, and all of the early disciples and saints, as great as they were, as we just heard,  . . there is no salvation in any other name! . . ."  Just the Name of Jesus!

"O give thanks to the Lord: call upon His Name; make known His deeds among the people." (Psalm 105:1)

And remember, as well, that our names mean something also.  We remember that our names are important as well.  Our Lord speaking to the Disciples stated:  " . . . rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in Heaven." (St. Luke 10:20)  Never forget that our names are written in Heaven!  Our names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life!  Our names are written down by God.   Thus, let us never forget that we have a name to live up to as well.  We have been designated with a very special name:  the name of Christian, followers of Christ.  As such,  our name is written down in Heaven.  Let us do what we can now to live up to that name!

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