Every day of Lent, Bishop Edward Malesic writes a Scripture reflection for the faithful. Follow the bishop on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Click HERE for the readings.
The name of God in the Old Testament is translated into English as “I AM.” I AM is a name that refers to God. God simply is. God is without beginning or end. God is being itself. And yet, as potent as God is, God is determined to have a personal relationship with us. He wanted us to know his name: “I AM.”
The name of God was so revered that ancient Jews refused to speak it out loud. Instead of saying it, they would sometimes substitute the word, “LORD.” If you ever read scripture and you see the capitalized word “LORD”, especially in the Old Testament, it is being used to substitute for the holy name of God, which would not be spoken out loud out of reverence for God’s holy name.
But Jesus dares to say it. In fact, he dares to own it. He said, “Amen, amen, I say to you, before Abraham came to be, I AM.”
That is why they picked up stones to throw at him, because he told them the truth. He and the Father had the same name. He and the Father had the same being. He and the Father had the same power. He and the Father were one. This is the same God who comes to us every time we open our hearts to Jesus, every time we receive Jesus in the Eucharist, and every time we call on his human name. “Jesus, son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” To call on the name of Jesus is to make him present. And he wants to abide with us.