WEDNESDAY REFLECTION
Mid-week Reflection
24th February 2021
I almost never watch comedians on television. I cannot stand their seeming inability to be funny without using vulgar swear words. The same is often true about out-take programmes. What is funny about a highly-paid actor who is too lazy to learn lines properly and resorts to swearing? Even worse is when they curse using the Holy Name of Jesus.
In the days of the Old Testament, people held the name of God with such reverence that they would not call Him by His Name but referred to Him. In forbidding the vain use of God’s name, the third commandment does not merely ban irreverent, worthless, and empty speech and actions about the Lord, His titles, and His character. Like the other commandments, it also implicitly calls us to do the opposite of what it forbids. Even God the Father honours Jesus, not by using His Name but calling Him, “My Beloved Son.” In Apostolic Times people held Jesus with such awe, respect and reverence that, for example, as we heard on Sunday, Saint Peter calls Him “Rabbi” Peter has such love and veneration for the Lord that he wants to build a tent for Him. Not in the sense of camping and relaxing in the great outdoors but rather wanting Him to put down roots, stake a claim, and not move on. The problem for Peter was that Jesus had no plans to rest. So Peter follows Jesus back down the mountain, knowing that he had to stay with Jesus if he ever wanted to see such brilliance, beauty, and glory again.
There is a great carelessness among people of our day when the name of the Lord is used so recklessly. It saddens the heart to hear that Glorious Name used as a curse rather than as a prayer. The days of reverence for the Holy Name may seem to have gone, but they could and should come back. And they will…..particularly if the practice begins….. with us!
Monsignor Monaghan
