Catholic Kernel of Truth - He Knows Your Name; Do You Honor His? : The Second Commandment

Have you ever had that moment where someone important remembers your name? Like a boss, or a teacher, or maybe someone you really admire. Doesn’t that feel amazing? It’s like—whoa, I exist. I matter. I’m not just a face in the crowd.

Did you know that God started His relationship with us by doing something really vulnerable?

In Exodus chapter 3, God appears to Moses in the burning bush, and Moses asks, basically, “Okay… you want me to tell people who sent me. What’s Your name?”

And God says: “I AM who AM.”

This is more than a name. It's a revelation. God isn't just giving Moses a label—He's revealing His essence. His eternal, all-present, never-changing being. And He does it out of… trust.

And that brings us to the 2nd Commandment:

“You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.”

Now, a lot of people think this just means “don’t misuse God's name” And yeah, that’s part of it—but it’s deeper than that.

The Catechism paragraph 2143 says that God confides His name to those who believe in Him. That’s so personal. Like giving someone your deepest password. He’s saying, “I want to be known by you… but please don’t misuse what I’ve entrusted to you.”

This name is holy. And when we use it lightly or disrespectfully, it’s like we’re trampling on that sacred trust.

If someone you love shared something deeply personal with you—like a childhood wound or a secret dream—and then you joked about it in public… that would hurt, right?

That’s what we do when we throw around God’s name like it’s just another word.

CCC 2146 says the second commandment even forbids blasphemy—not just misusing God’s name, but the names of Mary and all the saints, too. These names aren’t just “religious people.” They’re family. They’re part of our spiritual household. We’re called to honor them.

And then we get into oaths.

Jesus said something that really challenges the way we speak. In the Sermon on the Mount, He says:

“You shall not swear falsely… But I say to you, do not swear at all. Let your ‘yes’ be yes and your ‘no’ be no.”

CCC 2150-2153 reminds us—oaths aren’t casual. If you swear something in God's name and don’t mean it, that's not just a lie—that’s taking His name in vain. That’s serious.

When we’re baptized—we’re marked “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”

CCC 2156 says that God’s name sanctifies us in that moment. Like, you’re branded with heaven.

You become His.

And then—God calls each of us by name. CCC 2158 says that everyone’s name is sacred. And not just for now, but for eternity.

God doesn’t forget your name. Ever.

He says, “I see you. I know you. You’re mine.”

So when we talk about not using God’s name in vain—it’s not about rules for the sake of rules.

It’s about love.

It’s about respecting Someone who trusted us with something holy.

It’s about speaking with care. Living with reverence. Letting our words reflect the weight and beauty of the relationship we’ve been given.

So, maybe today we pause.

How do we use His name?

When we’re frustrated… when we’re joking… when we’re texting.

Are we honoring the God who loved us enough to tell us His Name?

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