This coming Sunday is the 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time. The expression “in my name” in the New Testament carries significant theological weight, often indicating the authority, power, or presence of Jesus in various contexts.

• Prayer and Petition: Jesus instructs His disciples to pray “in my name,” signifying that their requests are made with His authority and in alignment with His will (e.g., John 14:13-14). Prayers made in Jesus’ name are understood to be powerful and effective because they invoke His authority and character.

• Acts of Service and Miracles: The expression is also used in relation to performing miracles or acts of kindness, indicating that these deeds are done by His power and under His commission (e.g., Mark 9:39, Luke 9:49). This underscores that the works of believers are done not by their own power but by Christ’s.
• Salvation and Identity: Being “in my name” can also refer to the identity and salvation believers have in Christ. For instance, baptism is performed in the name of Jesus, signifying a new identity in Him and a participation in His death and resurrection (e.g., Acts 2:38).
• Gathering of Believers: Jesus promises His presence wherever two or three are gathered “in my name” (Matthew 18:20). This emphasizes the communal aspect of Christian faith, where Jesus is spiritually present among His followers.

Use of the “name of Jesus” played an important role in the early church as seen when Peter heals the man at the “Beautiful Gate” of the Jerusalem Temple (Acts 3:6, 16).  When the Apostles are arraigned before the Sanhedrin, they are asked by the authorities: “By what power or by what name have you done this?” (Acts 4:7) The apostles’ response is clear: “it was in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazorean whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead.” (Acts 4:10). Even today, during the Sacrament of Healing (Anointing) as part of the rite, the priest speaks: “Is anyone among you sick? He should summon the presbyters of the church, and they should pray over him and anoint [him] with oil in the name of the Lord.” (James 5:14)

“In Jesus’ name” seems to indicate the motivation by which one does something — welcoming a child, casting out demons, doing mighty deeds. Bearing the name of Christ and acting in Christ’s name seems to indicate belonging to Christ or acting as a representative of Christ or perhaps even, being Christ’s presence. But as Stoffregen notes, Mk 13:6 states: “Many will come in my name saying, ‘I am he!’ and they will deceive many.” How do we know if those who act in Christ’s name really belong to Christ or are leading us astray? One way that the early church tried to assure the people that their ordained leaders were truly acting “in Christ’s name” was that all pastors had to be ordained, and thus certified to be orthodox by bishops; and all new bishops needed at least three older bishops to certify that the new ones were orthodox in their beliefs and actions.

The word “name” occurs frequently in chapter 9:

• Whoever welcomes one such child in my name.. (v. 37)
• …someone driving out demons in your name… (v. 38)
• …no one who performs a mighty deed in my name… (v. 39)
• …whoever gives you a cup of water to because you belong to Christ… [the literal translation of this verse is “because you bear the name of Christ.”] (v. 41)

The phrase, “in the name…” denotes the source of power, but it also will reveal the sense of who is “inside” and who is “outside.” In last Sunday’s gospel, Jesus pulls a child “inside” and bids the Twelve to welcome and include the child. In this Sunday’s gospel we will see how well the lesson was received.

Image credit: The Exhortation to the Apostles | James Tissot | Brooklyn Museum | US-PD