Magic Eraser
Where does the name Jesus come from?
But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins. - Matthew 1:20-21
Today's Gospel reading form Matthew tells us that the name the angel gives to Joseph for the child who will be born of God is to be Jesus.
That name has meaning. We know the name as Jesus because the Gospels were written in Greek, and Jesus is derived from the Greek translation of the Hebrew word Joshua, which means God is Salvation, or God Saves.
Now when we hear this, we automatically think of Jesus dying on the cross, because we have been told that his death is our salvation. He died for our sins.
But is that really saving us from our sins?
The way I look at it, the punishment may have been removed, opening the door to eternal oneness with God, but the work of saving us from our sinfulness is something else, isn't it?
Throughout his ministry, while he was here on earth with us, he saved people from their sins by getting them to participate in their own salvation. They had to want to change their lives.
He was like a magic eraser who could blot out the past, but it was up to the individual to keep the slate clean.
So, if the work of salvation requires action on our part, then the gift of salvation could be all of ours to offer to others.
We don't need to do the erasing. God does that, as God did in the person of Jesus. But we can be reminders of the need to keep the slate clean.
In fact, I believe that is our job, to continue the work of salvation here and now.
And I think we can do it without worrying about disrespecting others. It is not about telling them they are wrong and we are right.
It is about showing them we have found a path that allows us to start fresh and feel good about ourselves.
Salvation happens here.
More to come...