Response to an Ancient Offense

I've run into this line, or something close, in movies:

"If you want something done right, do it yourself."
Supreme Commander Fowler Birdy, "Power Rangers S.P.D." (2005)

As I recall, it's been said by an arch-villain losing patience with inept minions, an exasperated manager, and a frazzled parent.

On the other hand, I can't remember a 'religious' movie, from "Ben Hur" (1959) to "Oh, God!" (1977) having God say "if you want something done right...," which is a little surprising.

Or maybe not so much. It's not quite the tone I remember from either the old Bible epics or the more recent comedies. And that's another topic or two.

Ancient Offense: Only One Solution

Sin is an offense against God, so only God can forgive sin. (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 431) That's why Jesus became one of us:

"Jesus means in Hebrew: 'God saves.' At the annunciation, the angel Gabriel gave him the name Jesus as his proper name, which expresses both his identity and his mission.¹⁸ Since God alone can forgive sins, it is God who, in Jesus his eternal Son made man, 'will save his people from their sins.'¹⁹ In Jesus, God recapitulates all of his history of salvation on behalf of men."
(Catechism, 430)

I've started another part of the Catechism, "And in Jesus Christ, His Only Son, Our Lord," 430-455.

It's not an exhaustive discussion of Jesus. Like John said:

"There are also many other things that Jesus did, but if these were to be described individually, I do not think the whole world would contain the books that would be written."
(John 21:25)

A Name, a Mission

Names mean things, for the most part at least. It's not always obvious where I live, since my culture got into the habit of using names from other languages - and keeping names from older versions of English.

Some names, like Victor, are still words in the contemporary language. Others once had equally obvious meanings, which aren't so obvious today. Edward, for example, means wealth-protector. "Ward" still means "to protect" in English, among other things: and I'm getting seriously off-topic.

Here's what "Jesus," and a few of my Lord's titles, mean:

• Name
  • Jesus
    • "God saves"
    (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 452)
• Titles (partial list)
  • Christ
    • "Anointed One"
    • "Messiah"
    (Catechism, 453)
  • (Only) Son of God
    • Signifies the unique and eternal relationship of Jesus Christ to God his Father
    (Catechism, 454)
  • Lord
    • Indicates divine sovereignty
    (Catechism, 455)

Like John said, there's more. But that's all for now.

Related posts:

• Original sin
  • "Battling Sin, Living in Hope"
    (July 25, 2012)
  • "Cain, Abel, and Ketchup"
    (July 18, 2012)
  • "Original Sin and the Unfairness of Gravity"
    (July 11, 2012)
  • "The Power to Hurt: Or Help"
    (June 27, 2012)
  • "Original Sin, Consequences, and Bootstraps"
    (June 13, 2012)
• Jesus
  • "A Divine Mercy Homily: "Peace be With You;" Jesus is Alive"
    (April 10, 2012)
    Guest post
  • "The Man Who Wouldn't Stay Dead"
    (March 11, 2012)
  • "How Could God Floss His Teeth?"
    (July 2, 2011)
  • " 'Jesus, Remember Me, When You Come Into Your Kingdom' "
    (November 21, 2010)
  • "Jesus Christ, Tough as Nails"
    (April 7, 2010)
• Salvation
  • " 'Life is here, Love is here, Challenge is here. ... The choice is ours' "
    (September 1, 2012)
    Guest post
  • "First Sunday in Lent; God is Reclaiming His Broken Creation"
    (February 26, 2012)
    Guest post
  • " 'Dust in the Wind' and Getting a Grip"
    (February 26, 2012)
    Particularly
    • "To Dust You Shall Return:" Humility and Salvation
  • "Being Saved, the Narrow Gate, and All That"
    (October 26, 2011)
  • "Death, Judgment, Heaven, Hell, and Warm Fuzzies"
    (August 8, 2010)