"Living Up to the Name" Is Something New

This last Thursday morning the world woke up to the news that a new war has broken out in Europe. Europe as a continent has not until now seen war since the fall of the Berlin wall.  I have tried for a long time now not to see the news or watch television, but I did this time. Pictures of war bring back a lot of memories for me of Uganda’s civil war in the 1980’s. Uganda to this day has not recovered from the consequences of conflict.  
 
As I continued to scroll through the news, I saw images of young and old men, lining up as ‘volunteers’ to join the army and defend their cities. They all looked somber, stoic but very determined that this is the moment that one must stand up for who he/she is and their land and fight!
 
The question for us to reflect is, would you? What situation or cause in your life, would summon you up to give up everything and fight for what you believe? Would you have the guts to fight? Like a citizen of a homeland that is attacked, would you offer up yourself, even not knowing what the outcome would be to defend your values? This is what I call: ‘living up to the name’. I do not just belong by name, but also in actions, in my efforts to stay always true to who I say I am or what I believe!
 
What is the point of the Christian discipleship? What does it mean to belong to the family of God here and now? To be a Christian means to be one more than in name, it is not a done deal that once a disciple then always a good disciple! One must ‘live up to the name’ and this is something else. It requires ongoing effort / fight to manifest a disciple’s values in the world. So dear Christian, ‘live up to the name’! let your life show the good fruits of what it means to be of God’s family.
 
The book of Sirach (The first reading) is written for a Jewish community that finds itself in the midst of a clash of cultures. Many believers were abandoning their values and faith to a more attractive Greek materialistic culture (especially young people). The author is determined to make the people of his community still see the value of their faith and qualities of their heritage. For example, if one were a merchant, the merchant believer must watch his use of the tongue/speech. Let his word not betray honesty and integrity. Let what he says match up with what he does. Let the results of being a merchant and believer show! Even as a merchant, live up to the name ‘Believer’.
 

The fruit of a tree shows the care it has had;
so too does one’s speech disclose the bent of one’s mind. (Sirach 27: 6)

 
Sant Paul urges the Christians of Corinth, in everything they do, to fix their eyes on heaven where true life is.
 

Therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters,
be firm, steadfast, always fully devoted to the work of the Lord,
knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. (1 Corinthians 15: 58)

 
How do these words ‘be firm’, ‘steadfast’, ‘fully devoted’, ‘know that in the Lord your labor is not in vain’, actually apply to your own life?  
 
Saint Paul challenges the disciple of Christ to ‘live up to the name’. It is here that confidence comes.
 
Jesus in the Gospel is upfront:
 

How can you say to your brother,
‘Brother, let me remove that splinter in your eye,’
when you do not even notice the wooden beam in your own eye?
You hypocrite!  Remove the wooden beam from your eye first;
then you will see clearly
to remove the splinter in your brother’s eye. (Luke 6: 42)

 
A disciple/follower of Christ cannot be a ‘pretender’ (hypocrite). You cannot try to better others without first knowing your own weaknesses. In order to be a good teacher, one must first be a good student (learner). Disciples must, therefore, listen well to the words of Jesus, the teacher, in order to teach them.  In Self evaluation, first we learn what it takes to ‘live up to that name’. Moral improvement of others begins with moral improvement in oneself. I cannot require others to do good, when I do not do good myself first.  
So first ask.. Do you live up to the name?  What ongoing effort is required for conversion? 
 
It is gratifying to be called a Christian, but we must ask, am I living up to the name? More than being seen as a regular church goer, ask do I live up to the Sunday liturgy readings? How do I translate what I listen to in my daily life?
 
Sharing of the Eucharist will require of us the ‘daily impact’. Translate the life of Christ to others. Live up to the name! Let the results and good fruits of this show.


-Fr. Anthony