By: Kyle George, Seminarian, Archdiocese of New Orleans
By: Kyle George, Archdiocese of New Orleans
“The Lord allowed you to live in this moment of history, so that by your faith, His name will continue to resound throughout the world.”
—Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI
God does not need His name to resound all throughout human history. No, His name does not need to be known by each heart for His own sake. For, if God’s name remained unknown to any person, He would still exist. His name would still remain Holy. His name would still remain Glorious. He would still remain as He always is, the God of all creation.
Yet, God’s name must resound for our sake. If Adam and Eve had not forgotten the true glory of what it means to bear the Holy Name of the Lord which was written in their very image as the image of God, then maybe they would never have sinned. If we truly acknowledge in our hearts the name of the Lord that is written upon them at Baptism, maybe our mind would be illuminated by a transforming renewal that guards our heart from sinful acts.
Finally, perhaps the reason God’s name must resound through all the world that it unveils the mystery of the meaning of His name for all who have it written upon their hearts. The name of God is His very identity, “I am.” He is the very act of existence. The very act of our existence and all of creation’s existence was done out of love.
You see it is not that God needs us to be known. The Father is known perfectly by the Son and the Son is known perfectly by the Father. This knowing is of a love that is perfectly reciprocated by the power of the Holy Spirit that is neither overwhelming nor necessary for each other’s existence. Rather, it is because “they are,” simply the very act of a love that transcends all human understanding. A love that we were created to be invited into. How Beautiful! God did not create us simply for His own sake; rather, God allowed us to exist in this very moment of history, so that by participating in our faith in Him we might better bear His name upon our shoulders like a cross in pursuit of that great Heavenly Promise. By doing so, His name can resound throughout all of the earth to all who know it not, or who have forgotten His name. So, that they can all know His name, for His Holy Name is Love.
His name must resound throughout all of Human History because every single person must know that the very reason that they exist is to be loved by a God who created them to be loved because they must be loved. Mankind must be loved to exist. “Each of us is the result of a thought of God. Each of us is willed. Each of us is loved. And, each of us is necessary,” (Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI).
For if you only knew that He loves you, you would weep for joy, you would repent and convert, and believe in the Holy Gospel by your life.
About the Author: Kyle George, Seminarian, Archdiocese of New Orleans
Kyle George is a Seminarian for the Archdiocese of New Orleans. He studies at Notre Dame Seminary in First Theology. A Convert to Catholicism, he especially enjoys writing on God’s love, spirituality, and deepening one’s faith in God.
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