Question: How does your name make you feel? Do you like it? Do you wish your parents had been a bit more creative? Turns out, our names impact who we are, how we perceive ourselves, and how others perceive us.
“The psychology of names in the context of humans is a rich and complex subject that touches upon culture, identity, and perception. Names are not just words; they are the essence of who we are, representing our heritage, values, and aspirations. They have the power to shape our self-identity and influence how others see us. In a world of diverse cultures and traditions, names are a reminder of the beauty of human individuality and the shared bonds that connect us across generations.”
John is a relatively common name; it is the third most popular name in the last 100 years. As of 2022, I share the name John with 4,354,502 others. That said, I like it. It seems to fit my vocation as a priest, and when I think of it in those terms, I feel more related to John the Baptist than the Apostle John—although they both influence how I understand myself.
Today, however, we celebrate a different name—the Holy Name of Jesus. (Officially celebrated on Monday.) The name “Jesus” is from the Hebrew Joshua, or Yehoshuah, meaning “Yahweh is salvation” or “Yahweh will save.” It was the name given to Jesus by his Father. As we read in St. Paul’s letter to the Philippians:
Therefore God also highly exalted him
and gave him the name
that is above every name,
so that at the name of Jesus
every knee should bend,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue should confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
The name Jesus is interesting and has wildly varying effects on people. It can cause some to give thanks and others to rage. It is a name that can bring peace and ravaging wars. It is truly the name above all names, but why so much division? Why so much discord when it is spoken? There are many different answers, but one thing is for sure: we can either contribute to the rancor or help bring about greater peace, for in the same way that people recall the name of an Ernest Hemingway novel when they hear my last name—For Whom the Bell Tolls—they will or will not recall the name of Jesus when they hear yours. Consider a Stradivarius violin.
Stradivarius is the name associated with the finest violins in the world. This is true because Antonius Stradivarius insisted that no instrument constructed in his shop be sold until it was as near perfection as human care and skill could make it. Stradivarius observed, “God needs violins to send His music into the world, and if any violins are defective, God’s music will be spoiled.” His philosophy was summed up in one sentence: “Other men will make other violins, but no man shall make a better one.”
Each violin was unique in itself, but each was the finest instrument of its kind. If not, Stradivarius would not attach his name to it. If he had, then the instruments he attached his name to would not have been considered of such great value, and in turn, his name would have been smeared and his influence forgotten.
In a similar manner, as the Christian people, the name of Jesus is attached to us, and if we are not viewed as the holy instruments of our God, then we tarnish the name of Jesus. In the process, we drive people away from the Truth and, in many cases, make them enemies of God.
You bear the most holy name in history: Jesus. When people speak your name, may the name they also recall in their minds be that name: Jesus, because, through you, they have experienced Him.
Candle in a Cave 