Nov. 2, 2006

‘Thou shalt not take God’s name in vain’

“O Lord, our Lord, how glorious is your name over all the earth!” This first line of Psalm Eight draws us into the sacred mystery that underlies the second of the Ten Commandments: “Thou shalt not take God’s name in vain.”

To be able to talk is a remarkable gift from God. To talk about God, i.e. to speak His name with reverence, is the best way to use our gift of speech. Not surprisingly, then, the Psalms help us to do so. For example, Psalm 29 (vs. 2) exhorts us: “Give to the Lord the glory due His name;” and Psalm 113 (vs. 1-2) acclaims: “Praise, you servants of the Lord, praise the name of the Lord. Blessed be the name of the Lord both now and forever.” Christ Himself tells us that when we pray we should say, “Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name…”

In view of the great blessing it is to know God’s name and to speak it with awe and praise, it is no wonder that one of the Ten Commandments would demand that we not use the Lord’s name in vain.

In God’s name

We make the Sign of the Cross so often that we can easily forget what a privilege it is to be able to begin our prayers “In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” With these words, we dedicate all the events of each day to God. We trust that His holy and glorious name will protect us from the devil’s temptations and strengthen us in our mission and vocation.

Not only do we have the obligation and the privilege to honor God’s name but His name also sanctifies us. When the Church confers Baptism on us “in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Cf. Mt 28:19), the Lord’s name becomes permanently linked with our names. It thereby makes our own names holy and worthy of respect. 

“The second commandment forbids the abuse of God’s name, i.e., every improper use of the names of God, Jesus Christ, but also of the Virgin Mary and all the saints.” With these words, the Catechism of the Catholic Church (#2146) tells us about the sins against the name of the Lord. Prominent among these is the sin of blasphemy. “It consists in uttering against God — inwardly or outwardly — words of hatred, reproach, or defiance; in speaking ill of God; in failing in respect toward Him in one’s speech; in misusing God’s name” (#2148). The Catechism continues, “Blasphemy is contrary to the respect due God and His holy name. It is in itself a grave sin.”

Every knee shall bend

Whoever blasphemes displays his disdain for the gift of faith. What a tragedy this is! It is the opposite of what we were created to be and to do. Because, in faith, our hearts open to God in gratitude; and we receive the words of eternal life. The greatest of these words is God’s name. “The gift of a name belongs to the order of trust and intimacy. ‘The Lord’s name is holy.’ For this reason man must not abuse it. He must keep it in mind in silent, loving adoration. He will not introduce it into his own speech except to bless, praise, and glorify it” (#2143).

St. Paul came to understand this wondrous mystery after having tried erroneously for years to erase the memory of our Savior’s name from the earth. Eventually, with God’s grace, the Apostle to the Gentiles dedicated his whole life to proclaiming the Gospel of Christ. The famous hymn now found in his Epistle to the Philippians (2:5-11) expresses his conviction. It concludes with these inspired words, “at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Respect for the name of others

Due reverence for God’s holy name naturally leads to genuine respect for the names of others. After all, our faith reminds us that God lovingly calls each person by name. In doing so, He helps each one of us to realize that we are created in the divine image and destined to live in the presence of the Blessed Trinity for all eternity.

Because God knows our name, we need not worry about winning approval from others to prove our dignity or worth; we know that it has already been won for us by Christ.

Few things are as important to us as our name. We notice whether it is spelled correctly or not. We cringe when others make fun of it or mock it. A name is more than just a tag that we can change at will. It points toward the very dignity and inner mystery of each person.

Respectful use of another’s name opens the door to a direct and personal relationship. It makes true friendship possible. It is an essential part of authentic love.

How much more important, then, for Christians to use God’s name with reverence and love, recalling how He has called us into an intimate friendship with Himself. As the Lord Jesus says (Jn 15:15-16), “I no longer call you slaves, because a slave does not know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father. It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name He may give you.”

Copyright 2006 The Catholic Sun.