This
is a Kleenex – actually it isn’t. This
is a Scotties white tissue.
It
is interesting how names work. In Canada and the US since the introduction of
facial tissues in 1924, tissues are often referred to with the generic
trademark ‘Kleenex,’ a trademark of the Kimberly-Clark company.
Today
we observe the octave, or the 8th day of Christmas. This festival has
been liturgically practiced since the 6th century. It commemorates
the circumcision and naming of Jesus. The use of the name Jesus is as widespread
as the use of the name Kleenex.
Nova
Scotia began its birth registry in August of 1864. For each year we can go back
and look at the most popular names. Any guesses for the most popular girl and
boy names in 1864 Nova Scotia? … A clue, we are in the season of Christmas - Mary and Joseph.
In
the past 200 years, in the US, approximately 240,000 boys have been named
Jesus. Surprisingly the height of popularity was 2001, up 114%, with 6400
babies receiving the name. Popularity was highest in States with the largest
Spanish speaking peoples, New Mexico, Texas, California. Although there are a fair
number of people named Jesus, the name is not so widespread because of the
birth registry.
Like
Kleenex, the name Jesus, has become a household word. It has become that mostly
through swearing; where people take that which is holy, religious, or taboo to
give power to their explicative. Over the years I have heard many complain
about this usage of the name Jesus. This morning I would like us to consider
approaching ‘Jesus’ name as a swear word from a different perspective. Perhaps it
is not about the user, but the hearer.
When
we hear the name of Jesus used as a swear, do we get bothered, judgemental, or
all self-righteous? What if we set our ears to really listen?
Hearing
Jesus’ name is a reminder to us that Jesus is hidden-in-plain-sight and present
in the everyday. Incarnate. Jesus is present in the messiness of life and calling
for followers to be present too; to refocus and act as a child of God. That does not mean showing disgust and berating
someone who is swearing.
Jesus
as a name means – Yahweh saves; or the Lord is salvation. Through Jesus’ name
followers are asked to address the brokenness they have encountered in another
human being and offer healing, salvation.
Set
your ears to really listen when you hear Jesus’ name. What is the person using
the name conveying to you? Is it frustration, anger, stress, trauma,
disappointments, fear, grief? When you listen what is pent-up inside the person
and from what hurt does the explicative come from?
As
followers of Jesus, we are asked to ‘living into a name’ – living into Jesus’
name is confronting, combating, and addressing the brokenness we encounter;
listening and being present to usher in healing and wholeness.
The
Hebrew scripture for today is the blessing we know very well. The Lord bless
you and keep you. This blessing could be the perspective we adopt, from which
we address, confront, and combat brokenness. The blessing organizes claims
about how ‘the Lord’ acts and thus, how followers are to act out salvation. The
text’s verbs commend the actions of: bless, keep, shine, be gracious, lift up, and
give you (or give) peace.
As
I consider hearing Jesus’ name in the world, and responding as a follower of
Jesus, -to be present in the brokenness I encounter – I start the New Year with
my pockets full of Kleenex (or Scotties white tissues if you prefer); to help
me act – to dry tears, wipe noses, wrap wounds- so that I might be focused on
blessing, keeping, shining, being gracious, lifting up, and giving peace.
Let
us all begin and live this new year in
Jesus’ name.
What about the Commandment “Do not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain” ? I get it, to look beyond the words to the speaker and his/her reasons or circumstances for using them this way, but surely we as Christians are called to uphold the Commandments? I have always taught my children to never, ever swear using the Lord’s name. While all their friends, one set of grandparents, teachers, co-workers and acquaintances throw around OMG like it means nothing, my children, husband and I do not and never will. It’s wrong, plain and simple. I’m struggling with this sermon’s message because it sounds like you’re condoning speaking this way…are you?
ReplyDeleteIt is not my intension to condone swearing by using Jesus' name, particularly by those who are followers of Jesus. I was trying to convey a responsibility to followers of Jesus, that getting up set by others using Jesus' name is not as helpful as redirecting that upset energy to addressing the issues causing the use of the swear in the first place. It is my experience that telling people to not use certain swear words falls on deaf ears. I can only change myself and am working on finding ways to reshape how I hear Jesus' name and what action it draws from me.
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