Readings
I - 1 Jn. 2: 29 - 3:6
II - Jn. 1: 29-34
Holy Name of Jesus
Saint Kuriakose Elias Chavara
BEHOLD THE LAMB OF GOD
In today’s Gospel passage, John the Baptist identifies the Lamb of God, Jesus; introduces him to his disciples and bears witness to him. John the Baptist was able to identify the Lamb of God because the Holy Spirit had revealed to him. The Holy Spirit is the Counsellor, inspirer and the advocate. Every day during the mass, we hear the priest lifting up the host and say, “Behold the Lamb of God”. Jesus, the Lamb of God is the one who had taken away our sins on his shoulders as did the sacrificial lamb of the people of Israel. Do we realise this at those moments? If not, intercede with the Holy Spirit for such a grace so that we too can like John the Baptist discover Jesus and bear witness to him in our lives as did John the Baptist. For such a grace we need to allow the Holy Spirit to work in us. Be open to the Holy Spirit and discover Jesus, the Lamb of God in order to bear witness to him.
Today the Church celebrates the feast of the holy name of Jesus. Jesus is a most common name in Israel but what is uncommon is that the person to whom this name belong to: the Son of God, the Promised One who came to redeem the world. The holy name of Jesus is healing, consoling, comforting, soothing, liberating, encouraging and uplifting. The utterance of the very name of Jesus is by itself a most powerful prayer. The name of Jesus is our salvation: “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved” (Acts: 11:12). It is a promise: “Promise and whatever any of you ask in my name, I will do” (Jn. 14:13). It is an assurance to be with his people: “where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them” (Mt. 18: 20). The name of Jesus is our justification: “You were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Cor. 6: 11). The name of Jesus saves: “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Rom. 10:13). Many of the saints including Don Bosco has prayed, “In the name of Jesus”. This is of course a short and simple prayer but most effective, miraculous and powerful prayer. Today in particular let us pray more frequently, “In the name of Jesus”
Today we celebrate the feast of St. Kuriakose Elias Chavara from Kainakary, Kerala, Southwestern India. He was an educator and a social reformer. He started schools in Mannanam and Arpookara. He had also started St. Joseph’s printing press in Mannanam, the third printing press in Kerala. Aware that children need to be fed before being taught, he instituted midday meal programme for the children. He served as Vicar-General of the Syro-Malabar Church and worked hard to renew the faith of the people. He was the Co-founder and the first Prior-General of the Congregation of the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate and also the Co-founder of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Mother of Carmel. The congregation served in the field of education empowering especially the women and the children. Kuriakose Elias Chavara was beautified by St. Pope John Paul II on February 8, 1986 at Kottayam, India and was canonised on November 23, 2014 by Pope Francis. The saint was a man of prayer and is known for his devotion to the Holy Eucharist and the Blessed Virgin Mary. May the saint intercede for us to discover the Lamb of God as did John the Baptist so as to be effective witnesses of him.
