Learn about the Holy Name of Jesus
Veneration to the Holy Name of Jesus is based on the Letter of St. Paul to the Philippians 2:5-11, which is also called the Christological Hymn: 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which was in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:5-11)
The Christological Hymn is dated 56-57 AD. Verses 6-7 tells us about the mystery of the Incarnation, when the Eternal Word took on human nature. Verse 8 compares Christ to the suffering servant in Isaiah 52 and 53. Verses 9-10 tells us about the exaltation of Christ – that every knee should bend at His Holy Name. Verse 11 tells us that in confessing that Jesus Christ is Lord, we exalt not only the Son but also God the Father.
Sacred Scripture tells us the great power of invoking the Holy Name of Jesus reverently: (1) These signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will drive out demons, they will speak new languages. They will pick up serpents (with their hands), and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not harm them. They will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover. (Mark 16:17-18) (2) Peter said, “I have neither silver nor gold, but what I do have I give you: in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazorean, (rise and) walk.” (Acts 3:6) (3) Amen, amen, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you. (John 16:23)
The invocation of the holy name of Jesus is the simplest way of praying always. When the holy name is repeated often by a humbly attentive heart, the prayer is not lost by heaping up empty phrases, but holds fast to the word and “brings forth fruit with patience.” This prayer is possible “at all times” because it is not one occupation among others but the only occupation: that of loving God, which animates and transfigures every action in Christ Jesus. (CCC 2668)
On February 2-3, 2019, please welcome Ms. Chih-Li Ying and Ms. Yvonne Chow who will present a seminar on evangelization. The main theme for this seminar is “Celebrate Chinese New Year with the Lord.”
On the anniversary of the Supreme Court decision, Roe vs. Wade, all dioceses in the United States shall observe a “Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children.” On January 22, 2019, the Mass at noon on Tuesday will be for “Giving Thanks to God for the Gift of Human Life.”
One of our parishioners, Michael Chan, is a licensed mechanical engineer, and he is working on the Engineer’s report for the HVAC systems in our church. The Engineer’s report will weigh in many different factors for a well-designed solution and recommendation. There have been many questions on the condition of the two 20-ton heat pump units in our church. Last Friday, Trane commercial service technicians came to assess the condition of the 20-ton heat pump unit which services the sanctuary, and they found three major problems: (1) the dampers in the attic were not operational, which results in cold air being pulled in from the attic and outside, (2) the reversing valve in compressor B is not working correctly, (3) the heat strip capacity is severely inadequate for auxiliary heating, resulting in only an 8 degree heat rise in the sanctuary. The Trane representative will submit an estimate on the cost of fixing these problems by the end of next week. Michael will include this additional information in the Engineer’s report. Thank you, Michael!
The topic for today’s Bible Study at 12:30 pm is the Wedding Feast in Cana from the Gospel of John.