• ELOHIM (meaning strength or power). This is the first name for God found in the Bible. • YHVH (“I AM”). This is the special name for God that was given to Moses at the burning bush. We translate it as the word ‘Lord’.

• •

God had promised the Jewish people that He would send them a Saviour, someone who would save them from their sins and allow the gates of heaven to be opened for all people.

Isaiah was a prophet (someone who God used to tell His people about the future). Isaiah prophesied in the Old Testament that the Saviour would be called: Wonder-Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace and Emmanuel (a name which means God with us). (Isaiah 9v6, Isaiah 7v14)

•

When the Angel Gabriel came to Mary he told her that she would be the Mother of the Saviour. This was the Saviour that the Jews had been waiting for. The angel told Mary to call the baby ‘Jesus’.

•

When Jesus grew up and started preaching in the temple he told the people that he is “I AM” (or YHVH) (John 8:56-9). This is the same name for God that Moses was given at the burning bush many years before. Jesus was telling everyone that he is God.

• • • • • The following are some of the names that Jesus is called: Messiah – comes from a Hebrew word meaning "anointed one” Christ – this is Greek for the word ‘Messiah’ Son of God – The father of Jesus was God the Father, so Jesus is the Son of God. Son of Man - The mother of Jesus was Mary, a human being, so we call Jesus the ‘Son of Man’ (Man means human being). Saviour - someone who rescues or saves (in this case Jesus is the Saviour who rescues all humans from their sins and allows the gates of heaven to be opened for all).

The name Jesus itself comes from the Greek word meaning ‘God saves’.

• Jesus healed many people and performed many miracles. Jesus told his disciples to use the power of His name to perform miracles and healings also (Mark 16v17-18). He also told his disciples to preach in His name and to baptise (Matthew 28v19) and give forgiveness (the Sacrament of Reconciliation) in His name. That is why the priest says “I absolve you from your sins” – he is forgiving you in the name of Jesus (Luke 24v47).

• Once, a person who wasn’t one of Jesus’ apostles used Jesus’ name to heal someone. The apostles of Jesus tried to stop him but Jesus told them not to. “You must not stop him: anyone who is not against you is for you” Jesus said (Luke 9v50).

• After Jesus died and rose again the apostles continued to preach and use the name of Jesus to heal and perform miracles. Peter said to a cripple begging outside the Temple “I have neither silver nor gold but I will give you what I have: in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, walk!” and the crippled man got up and walked! (Acts 3v6) All the people around were astonished. Peter had to explain to the people how the man had been healed. He said: “It was by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, the one you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by this name and by no other that this man is able to stand up perfectly healthy, here in your presence, today” (Acts 4v10). The apostles themselves had no power, the healing came from the power of Jesus because He is God.

• Peter went on to say that “for all the names in the world given to men, this is the only one by which we can be saved”. (Acts 4v12) It is only through Jesus that we can be saved from our sins.

• • • In the Old Testament, the Third Commandment that God gave to Moses was: You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain. (Exodus 20v7) This commandment forbids us to pronounce the holy Name of God without reverence.

We receive the Holy Spirit at our baptism and in a special way during the Sacrament of Confirmation. Two of the gifts of the Holy Spirit are: Reverence and ‘Wonder and Awe’.

Reverence means we have a deep sense of respect for God. We realise that we need God and are completely dependent on Him.

Wonder and Awe means that we are aware of the glory and majesty of God.

In the New Testament (Philippians 2v10-11), St. Paul tells us that "At the name of Jesus every knee should bow, things in heaven, and things on earth, and things under the earth; and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord." From the earliest days of Christianity, Christians have known the great power of Jesus' Holy Name.

• • • The Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus is a Christian holiday observed anywhere from the first to the eighth of January. • It has been celebrated since the end of the 15 th century.

The Church has dedicated a whole month to honour the Holy Name of Jesus.

Through this devotion, the Church reminds us of the power of Christ's Name and encourages us to pray in His Name.

• • • • We should only use the name of God or Jesus when we are saying a prayer and not when we are annoyed or surprised.

When we hear someone using God’s name in vain we can say in our hearts ‘Jesus, I love you’.

We can drop into a Church and thank God the Father for sending his Son Jesus into our world. We can praise God using all the different names He has.

We can pray that everyone will respect God’s name because it is so holy.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Websites used to create this presentation

http://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/overviews/months/01_1.cfm

http://catholicism.about.com/b/2011/01/03/january-the-month-of-the-holy-name-of-jesus.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feast_of_the_Holy_Name_of_Jesus http://www.allaboutgod.com/names-of-god.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_gifts_of_the_Holy_Spirit http://www.google.ie/imgres?imgurl=http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7XVbbOvjdbA/TF9xi2tWQeI/AAAAAAAACgM/DQYIpIoyagc/s1600/IMG_2790.jpg&imgrefurl=http://monterey-tlm.blogspot.com/2010/08/baptism-at-san-juan-bautista-august-1st.html&usg=__VYSTlsJa9x ajOtBnDiVq8Vy5kY=&h=533&w=800&sz=53&hl=en&start=36&zoom=1&tbnid=7m WucE7dEXMqM:&tbnh=166&tbnw=221&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dthe%2Bholy%2Bname%2Bof%2BGod%26hl%3Den%26biw%3D1362%26bih%3D506%26gbv%3D2%26tbs%3Disch:10%2C974&itbs=1&ei=pending&biw=1362&bih=506&iact=rc&dur=194&oei=8folTcLtLYSLhQeL nOW3Dg&esq=2&page=3&ndsp=12&ved=1t:429,r:9,s:36&tx=125&ty=112 (image of baptism) http://www.google.ie/imgres?imgurl=http://www.frankordaz.com/images_1/gospel_art/2_2_PeterHealingCripple.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.frankordaz.com/portfolio.php%3Fc%3Dgospel_art%26pg%3D2%26im%3D2_2_PeterHealingCripple&usg=__A_keEyvP6ak_8r5A7J nhwjrBfQ8=&h=272&w=350&sz=33&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=iJlFFTw79 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http://www.google.ie/imgres?imgurl=http://www.utilitarianism.com/jesus-christ.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.utilitarianism.com/jesus-christ.html&usg=__vCMdeGK-AS69FqY6Ke-qJD xvhA=&h=498&w=350&sz=67&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=kds4m8m3J69GWM:&tbnh=173&tbnw=122&prev=/images%3Fq%3DJesus%26hl%3Den%26biw%3D1362%26bih%3D506%26gbv%3D2%26tbs%3Disch:1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=573&vpy=94&dur=9468&hovh=2 68&hovw=188&tx=85&ty=146&ei=XP4lTZeBM5K4hAeo0qSQDQ&oei=XP4lTZeBM5K4hAeo0qSQDQ&esq=1&page=1&ndsp=15&ved=1t:429,r:3,s:0 (Jesus with sheep) http://www.google.ie/imgres?imgurl=http://www.breatheagainmagazine.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/woman-praying picture.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.breatheagainmagazine.com/wordpress/&usg=__3DhSGdKYDUPiHY7KwCkosinrkHQ=&h=253&w=474&sz=136&hl=en&start=68&zoom=1&tbnid= tLojhaVUh5X1M:&tbnh=117&tbnw=219&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dyoung%2Badult%2Bpraying%26hl%3Den%26biw%3D1362%26bih%3D506%26gbv%3D2%26tbs%3Disch:10%2C1760&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=400&vpy=120&dur=328&hovh=164&hovw=307&tx=220&ty=116&ei =mf8lTe_kFcm3hAex2u3CAg&oei=av8lTe3jLIewhAf61tC3Dg&esq=5&page=5&ndsp=12&ved=1t:429,r:7,s:68&biw=1362&bih=506 (woman praying) http://www.google.ie/imgres?imgurl=http://www.istockphoto.com/file_thumbview_approve/9227262/2/istockphoto_9227262-desktop-calendar-january-2011.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.istockphoto.com/stock-photo-9227262-desktop-calendar-january 2011.php&usg=__PiK1als6y5WBulflDu4U8289dPA=&h=380&w=380&sz=42&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=xC 1PkI30ujgzM:&tbnh=118&tbnw=118&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dcalendar%2Bjanuary%2B2011%26hl%3Den%26biw%3D1362%26bih%3D506%26gbv%3D2%26tbs%3Disch:1&itbs=1&iact=rc&dur=339&ei=FQAmTciKMISGhQeMufC3Dg&oei=FQAmTciKMISGhQeMufC3Dg&esq=1 &page=1&ndsp=22&ved=1t:429,r:13,s:0&tx=61&ty=54 (calendar picture) http://www.google.ie/imgres?imgurl=http://www.morethings.com/god_and_country/jesus/children-jesus 180.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.morethings.com/god_and_country/jesus/children_jesus_photo_gallery04.htm&usg=__6US1lglfmwVO1NbaBfbeqeRbt1U=&h=720&w=594&sz=80&hl=en&start=28&zoom=1&tbnid=1nFt0z7L7TdpXM:&tbnh=155&tbnw=154&prev=/images% 3Fq%3Djesus%26hl%3Den%26biw%3D1362%26bih%3D506%26gbv%3D2%26tbs%3Disch:1&itbs=1&iact=rc&dur=542&ei=dwAmTb3dEciKhQfimM2EAg&oei=UQAmTcTJG86ChQfGm5y4Dg&esq=3&page=3&ndsp=15&ved=1t:429,r:9,s:28&tx=61&ty=97 (Jesus and the children) http://www.google.ie/imgres?imgurl=http://bonvivantonline.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/shamrock_clover_leaf.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.bonvivantonline.com/2010/03/10/of-snakes-slaves-and-shamrocks-%25E2%2580%2593-fact-and-fiction surrounding-st-patrick%25E2%2580%2599s-day/&usg=__U392JrB_uaRW6wxWi1 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http://www.google.ie/imgres?imgurl=http://handofgod.com.au/attachments/Image/The_Prophet_Isaiah_ _1904_by_Providence_Litho_Co.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.handofgod.com.au/page122.php&usg=__EqCRn1Li3imtG9lBv_PQrmw7wMY=&h=320&w=280&sz=24&hl=en&start=15&zoom=1&tbnid=NweEsUFkY1iQiM:&tbnh=163&tbnw=143&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dprophet %2BIsaiah%26hl%3Den%26biw%3D1362%26bih%3D506%26gbv%3D2%26tbs%3Disch:10%2C296&itbs=1&ei=SAImTdfYIsXPhAetrPixAg&biw=1362&bih=506&iact=rc&dur=237&oei=QwImTe-9EIeAhAfg2Pm3Dg&esq=2&page=2&ndsp=16&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:15&tx=42&ty=29 (Isaiah) http://www.google.ie/imgres?imgurl=http://www.laleocafe.com/images/Jesus-preaching.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.laleocafe.com/laleocafe_Jesus Rabbi.htm&usg=__TXOs4DV6QgcU5MdOt4RLwkvO7wU=&h=157&w=216&sz=11&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=HaiRh4t4UkpUHM:&tbnh=123&tbnw=164&prev=/images%3Fq%3DJesus%2Bpreaching%2Bin%2Bthe%2BTemple%26hl%3Den%26biw%3D1362%26bih%3D50 6%26gbv%3D2%26tbs%3Disch:1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=163&vpy=225&dur=647&hovh=125&hovw=172&tx=122&ty=100&ei=4QImTf7xA5OFhQfh8_meBw&oei=4QImTf7xA5OFhQfh8_meBw&esq=1&page=1&ndsp=27&ved=1t:429,r:9,s:0 (Jesus preaching in the Temple) http://www.google.ie/imgres?imgurl=http://www.maranathacc.com/uploads/bible2.jpg&imgrefurl=http://maranathacc.com/pages/page.asp%3Fpage_id%3D13949&usg=__cPJZtrwJ_2MiuJAZul5uDrfMWkU=&h=427&w=640&sz=30&hl=en&start=12&zoom=1&tbnid=7DBn hoq_fQF9CM:&tbnh=166&tbnw=230&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dthe%2BBible%26hl%3Den%26biw%3D1362%26bih%3D506%26gbv%3D2%26tbs%3Disch:1&itbs=1&iact=rc&dur=554&ei=kAMmTcmqGsyxhAfdosTCAg&oei=fgMmTameKoyXhQfG5di3Dg&esq=2&page=2&ndsp= 12&ved=1t:429,r:6,s:12&tx=179&ty=137 (the Bible) http://www.layoutsparks.com/1/112589/the-sacrifice-cross-saviour.html

(Jesus on the Cross)