Sunday Reflection with Canon Robin Gibbons - July 3rd 2022

Second Coming Icon - RG

14th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Names mean a lot, how we are called, how we address others signifies all kinds of things, but to call somebody by the personal name indicates a deep connection. I've grown used to mine, its really Robert with two others added, but from early childhood we used the diminutive form Robin and in a way I quite like the split, one very much from my monastic-church and French family use, the other most frequently used in work, amongst friends and family, and a monastic name too. I am aware all my proper names have a patron saint attached to them, these feasts I celebrate in my own way as I hope each of you does with your own patron saints, and if not do start!

But enough of myself, your know well how your own names will be equally important in how you are dealt with, how people perceive you, know you, understand you. Yet there is one name that by ancient spiritual tradition we do not yet know, for it is known only to the Most High, the name that sums us up exactly, just as the Holy Creator has intended in love for us. In the letter to the Hebrews (12: 23)we are reminded that our 'names' are enrolled in heaven, and in the book of Revelation (Rev 2:17) a white stone with a new name, known only to the one who receives it, is given to the righteous by the Son of God. There are numerous occasions in the Hebrew Scriptures where a change of name signifies something momentous, holy, spiritually challenging and transformative, in the New Testament Saul became Paul, Simon became Peter, Christ himself is called by a number of names, each indicating some aspect of his power, glory and divine status.

Yet there is also a case to be made for the eternal name of the One God, we cannot say or utter...yet! For it contains in its meaning all that has been, all that is, all that will be, it is the sum of all our parts and the deepest name we can ever utter in love, for to be invited to use it, to then see the Holy One face to face, will be the bliss of the Kingdom. Here in our Gospel today, Jesus almost casually reminds all disciples (yes that's us too!) that in our ministry, mission and life as disciples, our fidelity, our calling, also means that even now we belong to the Kingdom, in some dear and loving way, the ever Faithful One has written our names in the book of life, where we shall never be forgotten, thus promised eternal life!

Jesus says this to us all in our gospel today: "Nevertheless, do not rejoice because the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice because your names are written in heaven."(Lk 10:20)

We really need to take that as a starting point for mission and ministry, to link it as we should to our baptism and confirmation when we became true children of God, a distinctive community each called, each named by the All Highest. In our Byzantine Catholic Rites of Initiation, this prayer is part of the rite of the catechumenate in Baptism:

"Grant that (he-she) may walk in the way of Your commandments and do what is pleasing to You, for the one who observes the law shall live by it. Write (his-her) name in the book of life and unite (him-her) to the flock of Your inheritance. May Your holy Name be glorified in (him-her), together with the holy Name of Your beloved Son our Lord Jesus Christ, and of Your life-creating Spirit."(Rite of Catechumenate Byzantine Rite).

The image of the Book of Life in the Kingdom is no poetic fancy, for that Book of Life where we are understood as being faithful to the name of Christ and our names known, figures in the symbolism and imagery of the great Coming of Christ at the end of the ages, it is there in the consoling prayers of our funeral rites, as for instance in this one:

"Almighty God, through the death of your Son on the cross you destroyed our death; through his rest in the tomb you hallowed the graves of all who believe in you; and through his rising again you restored us to eternal life.

God of the living and the dead, accept our prayers for those who have died in Christ and are buried with him in the hope of rising again. Since they were true to your name on earth, let them praise you for ever in the joy of heaven. We ask this through Christ our Lord".

In that prayer we can also glimpse our gospel today, for the life of a Christian is one of name calling and name receiving, to us from God, to us by Christ, in us by the Holy Spirit, then it is our response to stand true to our anointed name, to utter the name of Christ as our brother and God and to live all that this means, secure in a relationship with the Triune One whose name is constantly on our lips! Our world has great need not so much of Christianity but of the good news Christians proclaim but also live. They yearn to hear these words burning into their hearts, even if as yet they cannot understand what it means: "say to them, 'The kingdom of God is at hand for you"

(Lk 10:9).

Look again at Jesus' commission, in simple terms we are called to go out, there in the context of meeting our first greeting is of peace, then and only then do we settle down to the work in hand. But, permeating it all is the Liturgy of our daily lives, a holy people , breaking bread, praising God, interceding for all, healing, forgiving, building up our great family in Christ.

I hope very much that I remain faithful to my own faith, so pray for me as I shall for you the unknown readers, but be assured that all of us will one day meet, for our names shall be proclaimed by the Messengers of God as we finally, but for that first time, face the one who knows us by our true, deep and secret name. Amen.

Isaiah 62

Zion's New Name ( NIV)

For Zion's sake I will not keep silent,
for Jerusalem's sake I will not remain quiet,
till her vindication shines out like the dawn,
her salvation like a blazing torch.
2 The nations will see your vindication,
and all kings your glory;
you will be called by a new name
that the mouth of the Lord will bestow.
3 You will be a crown of splendour in the Lord's hand,
a royal diadem in the hand of your God.
4 No longer will they call you Deserted,
or name your land Desolate.
But you will be called Hephzibah,
and your land Beulah;
for the Lord will take delight in you,
and your land will be married.
5 As a young man marries a young woman,
so will your Builder marry you;
as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride,
so will your God rejoice over you.

Ephrem the Syrian from: On the Second Coming of Jesus

For behold, my beloved, the gate calls to us, saying, "Make haste and come to me." Behold, our mother, Jerusalem, also tells us, "Come, my dear children. Come to me. Multiply your number in me and in the bridal chamber of your Lord. Let yours choirs be magnified with the holy angels in the light. I see you with glory and majesty, and with gladness and rejoicing. Desire me, my children, as I desire you. Acquire nothing on the earth. Take care for nothing. For behold the Bridegroom is ready to proceed on the clouds of heaven with the glory of his blessed Father. He will call you each by name, and he will place you within the ranks of those saints who abide in that ineffable light, in the life that is untainted, immortal, and eternal, in proportion to your toils.

The Name of JESUS

Elder Haralambos abbot of the large Monastery of Dionysiou, on Mt Athos.

December, 2000.

"He would often say about the Jesus Prayer:

'We say that noetic prayer is for all Christians. Noetic prayer is also called prayer of the heart. You ask if oral prayer can also be called prayer of the heart. If prayer is not pure, neither noetic nor oral prayer can be called prayer of the heart. Prayer of the heart is the prayer where the mind is literally swallowed up by the heart. Bombs can be falling, the house burning; the mind has no intention of leaving the heart, even if it's in danger of burning. That's why we must also cultivate the virtues, and unceasing prayer. As much as we can, never stop saying, "Lord Jesus Christ have mercy on me" orally and from the heart. When you get used to saying constantly, "Lord Jesus Christ have mercy on me," then you are sweetened so much that you are drawn to say this little prayer constantly. You don't feel hungry, nor do you want to talk, or say anything else.'