On Apocalyptic Names.

The books will be opened. The secrets will all be revealed. Everything will receive its true name. Prophets, angels, teachers, saints have been sent to reveal the truth to us, and still we fail to learn.

            Those who name God as Merciful show no mercy. Those who name God as Love shed blood in hate. The rhetoric of religions is saturated with violence, while Jesus stands in the midst of this maelstrom saying, ‘Do these words mean nothing to you? I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’

            The name represents the identity. The name acts, often, as the person. Your signature is something you had better not lose. ‘Identity theft’ is a crisis for people. The past that has given you meaning, your place in the divine dispensation, as well as your presence in the present secular order, all lost: this is what has been done and is being done to the Aboriginals. Their house of prayer has been ransacked: its name is Country.

            Uncompromising religions sweep across the Middle East. In the fifth century another uncompromising religion swept across the same lands, destroying the monuments of the protectors of cities: Christendom triumphant. We see the ruins of these ancient places, study the archaeology, try to understand them.

            Persons are to be loved, not understood.

            The hymn At the Name of Jesus speaks of Empire. It is God who is humbled in this hymn, in order to be named. Indeed naming is a limitation. You must be humble to receive a name.

            Jews, Muslims, Christians, Buddhists, Hindus, and others fight across countries, sacred lands, naming enemies and killing even the youngest children, as Herod killed the innocents, martyrs to his power.

            What does the transcendent God think of all this? If ‘think’ is a proper word to use of so great a Being. ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’

            Jesuit spiritual directors have a question that I think is a good question, worthy to be thought over, something to be solved for this day, the only day you are certain to have, although tomorrow you may find a different answer. “Who is Jesus Christ for you today?”

            Who is Jesus Christ for you? What does he say to our present griefs? To me he says: ‘Go and learn the meaning of this: I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’