Don’t you know who I am?
Remember my name – fame…I’m gonna live forever!
I’m gonna make it to Heaven! I’m gonna live forever!
Fame – remember my name!
That is part of the song from the 1980 movie, “Fame”, which was popular enough to launch a hit song, a TV series and a long playing Broadway musical. Seems they were worried about people knowing their name.
We all want people to know our name and we try very hard to remember others’ names too. It is so important where I work that we are trained to use our clients name at least three times in the earliest moments of our interaction.
We take great pains to name our children; looking up names in books and on the internet for some special meaning.
As people of faith, do we turn to the name of Jesus, the Christ? If people asked us who this Jesus is, what would we say?
In today’s Gospel from St. Luke Jesus asks his friends plainly, who do they say that I am? You heard the answers; and perhaps there were more names offered. Jesus then says, but who do YOU say that I am? Peter takes charge and answers spot on: The Christ of God. Notice how Peter answered; he did not say Jesus, but The Christ.
And for this correct answer they hear Jesus tell them that He will suffer, He will be killed and He will rise on the third day.
What is the background for this exchange in Luke’s ninth chapter? This dialogue comes at one of the most crucial moments in the life of Jesus. It is here that Jesus, who has been preaching while traveling away from Jerusalem, turns his face toward Jerusalem to begin the journey to the Cross; His journey to fulfill His Father’s divine plan.
This is a difficult moment for His friends to comprehend. The Christ literally means the anointed one. For the people that encounter Jesus on His mission they believe it means a political and military leader. But no, Jesus tells them to deny themselves, take up their cross and follow me. How does He want those to follow Him? To the point of losing one’s life for His sake.
Today, we ask ourselves what this means for us as we hear this powerful message. It means that Jesus must be the center of our lives. If necessary, we are being asked to sacrifice our dreams, our comfort zone and our plans and stay focused on The Christ. Can we stand tall for Christ when others criticize? Can we be a witness to the love of Christ in our daily lives and weekly activity?
Today, and in the week ahead, we have an opportunity to do just that. In just a few minutes, we will have a second collection for the retired Priests of the Archdiocese of New Orleans. These dedicated men, who served the Church, who served The Christ, and continue to do so even in retirement are dependent, in part, on our generosity. Some are still as active as can be; others face daunting medical and physical challenges. In all cases, these are men whose hands brought us the Body and Blood of Christ, who preached the Gospel, both in word and deed, who absolved our sins, administered the Sacraments, educated our young, comforted the elderly and prayed for us unceasingly. Today, we are challenged to support them in our prayers and with our financial donation. Can you hear the words of Christ: deny yourself, take up your cross and follow me? Today, we follow Jesus by assisting these retired Priests who helped make Jesus a central part of our lives. What a great way to truly celebrate Father’s Day! Please be generous!
And one last thing! In the week ahead, may we all remember that Jesus Christ is not our savior’s full name? Jesus is the name given Him from all eternity and told to Mary by the angel. Scripture tells us it is the name above every other name. And as mentioned earlier, The Christ is the word for anointed; in Hebrew it is translated Messiah.
Unfortunately, whenever we hear the words, Jesus Christ, uttered aloud together, it is not done with love and respect and worship and adoration. Can we, this week, deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow Him by never taking His most holy name in vain? Jesus is the name that saves; may we always call to Him in our prayers, in our need and in our love.
Remember my name! No, not fame; but the name of Jesus! And relying totally in Him, maybe then, we can live forever; we can make it to Heaven! Remember His name: Jesus; the Messiah, The Christ of God!
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