There’s power in a name. In the world of advertising, this is key because companies want you to remember the name of their product.
And if they advertise effectively, the end result is something called a proprietary eponym – which are general words that are, or were at one time, exclusive brand names. Let me give you a few examples:
- Disposable facial tissue = Kleenex
- Whipped topping = Cool Whip
- Gelatin dessert = Jell-O
- Cotton swabs on a stick = Q-Tip
- Doing an Internet search = Google
For advertisers, the goal is to have the consumer identify their product by the integrity of its name and thus trust and remain loyal to the brand. There truly is power in a name.
Today, we celebrate the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe (or Christ the King). Just as there’s power in a product name, there’s also power in the name of Jesus, especially as we remember Christ’s kingship, rooted in the Church’s teaching on the Incarnation – or that Jesus is fully God and fully human.
In our daily lives, we strive to follow Christ, our King by being in one accord with God and by living a life of integrity – just as Jesus lived.
Living with integrity means that you live in accordance with your deepest values or moral principles, you’re honest with everyone, and you always keep your word. This message is very evident in today’s readings.
In the first reading, the tribes of Israel ask David to be their king. They try to convince him by saying, “You’re one of us. We have this kinship with you. We are your bone and your flesh.” The Israelites were extremely loyal to David because he did what he said he was going to do. He was a true shepherd of the people, and they wanted to stick by David no matter what. Why? Because he lived authentically.
In the gospel, Jesus shows how he is different from other earthy rulers. When people mock Jesus because of their perceived weakness of him (why doesn’t he save himself), he doesn’t give in and doesn’t try to change his fate. When pressure was brought against him to abandon those values, he refused to do so. He died as he lived. He was a man of his word. This simple yet profound integrity makes Jesus who he is.
The repentant thief sees this in Jesus. By not coming down off the cross, Jesus shows that he will stay with him in his suffering. And then in one of the most beautiful moments of this scene, he does not ask to be taken down from his cross. But instead, he calls Jesus by his powerful name and asks to be taken up with Christ – to remember him. What a great reminder for us that all we have to do is call out the name of Jesus and he is right there by our side.
Jesus became human, one of us, bone of our bone and flesh of our flesh. He practiced what he preached, doing what he said he was going to do: teaching and living a non-violent way of life. For Jesus, it was all about forgiveness, reconciliation, and love of others. These values must be followed at all costs if we are to live a life of integrity.
There’s a story of a woman in her thirties who was recounting the horrible death of her husband a number of years earlier. He had been diagnosed with cancer, and after therapy after therapy had failed, he became bitter, lashing out at everyone and rebuffing anyone who tried to comfort him. When he had looked back on his young life, he regretted the choices he had made. He died angry and withdrawn. She ended her story saying, “I do not want to die this way.”
A woman who worked with the dying asked her, “So how do you need to live?” The woman looked puzzled, so she asked her again. “How do you need to live to be sure that you do not die this way?” This time she got it. She realized she was not living as authentically as she wanted. There were many things left undone; missed opportunities, and many roads not taken. She began to revise her life in the light of her own death. Contemplating her death started a process that led to her rearranging her life.
The world challenges us every day to choose the rule of other powers: greed, violence, indifference, anger, hatred, cruelty, narcissism, aggression, busyness, etc. But Jesus asks us to live differently.
So, the question is: how do you and I need to live?
Are we following the example of Jesus by living with integrity – living out our values, being honest and trustworthy, standing up for injustices, striving for peace, serving those in need, forgiving one another, and loving every single person we encounter with absolutely no exceptions?
Are we living in a manner that is worthy of Jesus’ companionship? Do we trust in the powerful name of Jesus? Do we expect Jesus to save us from our crosses, or do we see a king who offers us eternal life in his kingdom?
This Jesus who is King of the Universe doesn’t reign from a beautiful throne; he doesn’t have a glittering crown on his head. He doesn’t wear fancy robes and have regal surroundings. He hangs from a wooden cross, wears a crown of thorns, and his body shows the marks of his crucifixion. This is the King we follow – and this is the King who invites us with open arms to embrace him and to be one with him.
Jesus was not sent to save himself, but to save others. His whole mission was to look after the people of his kingdom – each and every one of us – so we can be with him in paradise.
My sisters and brothers, there’s power in the name of Jesus. May we always live as a walking, talking, living, breathing, loyal and loving advertisement for Christ the King – sharing in his royal power forever and faithfully living out a life of integrity.
May we joyfully offer praise, honor, and glory to the powerful name of our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, now and forever. Amen.
Whether you like surprises or not, you will definitely want to read this.
