Published in the bulletin of Holy Ghost Catholic Church in Knoxville, TN, on Pentecost Sunday.
My dear Parishioners,
Peace! There are eight (8) “In Brief” articles in the Catechism of the Catholic Church addressing the Second Commandment of the Decalogue, ‘You shall not take the Name of the Lord, your God, in vain.’ The following is a reflection on CCC 2167.
The Second Commandment of God reminds us not only of the holiness of God’s Name but also of the dignity and holiness of our own names, know and loved by God. We are not to mock the Holy Name of God, nor are we to mock the names of one another. Because God knows and calls each one of us by name we should similarly respect each other (cf. Isaiah 43:1).
The power and dignity of a name is highlighted in Sacred Scripture when we see Adam naming the creatures in the beginning (cf. Genesis 2:19–20). It was Almighty God who gave Adam his name (cf. Genesis 5:2). The Hebrew words nam and shem (not to be confused with Noah’s son) and the Latin word nomen are translated into English as “name.” Sometimes the names given are descriptive of the person or place or position and the like. Examples of the name representing the person include when the Lord Jesus warned His followers that they will be hated on account of His Name and that we must renounce all for the sake of His Name in order to follow Him (cf. Matthew 10:22; 19:29). The power of Jesus’ Name is likewise evident throughout the New Testament where we see “prophesying” “preaching” and the working of miracles all done in His Holy Name (cf. Matthew 7:22; Mark 9:39; Acts 4:7, 18; 5:28).
Certain names have specific meanings, such as “Deborah” meaning “bee”, “Hannah” meaning “grace”, “Jonathan” meaning “Yahweh has given”, “Jesus” meaning “God Saves” (cf. Matthew 1:21; Luke 2:21). The change of name from Abram to Abraham, Jacob to Israel and Simon to Peter highlights new responsibilities (cf. Genesis 17:5; 32:28; Matthew 16:16–18).
Place names are also not insignificant when we consider “Bethel” means “the place where God spoke” while “Peniel” means “I have seen God face to face”(cf. Genesis 32:30; 35:15). “Jerusalem” is often translated variously as “City of Peace” or “possession of peace” or “foundation of peace” yet it also has other names such as “Holy City” (Isaiah 48:2; 52:1; Nehemiah 11:1), “hearth of God” (Isaiah 1:26), "city of righteousness (Psalm 72:16; Jeremiah 32:24; Ezekiel 7:23).
Let us respect the Holy Name of God and all other names for the sake of the Name above every other name, so that at Jesus’ Holy Name, every knee will bow, here below on Earth, up above in Heaven, and even beneath the Earth in the realms of the depths (cf. Philippians 2:9–11). To the extent we revere and safeguard the holiness of God’s Name we shall in His mercy join the blessed in Heaven adoring Him continuously. Those who die, unrepentant of their blasphemy will suffer eternally.
God bless you!
Father John Arthur Orr