Names are important. They help us to know who someone is, and gives us a way to call on them. Very often names have meaning, saying something about the person or her or his family, or what they do.
In the Scriptures, we sometimes see that God changes someone’s name when he has a special ministry or task for them to do. That was true of Abram way back in the book of Genesis. He and his wife Sarah were old, and they never had any children, but God provided him with a son, and promised that he would be the father of many nations, and have descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky. He changed his name to Abraham, and made a covenant with him that he would be Abraham’s God, and be with him always.
In the Gospels, Simon met Jesus after an unsuccessful fishing expedition. He called him to become a fisher of men, bringing in souls for the kingdom of God. He changed his name from Simon to Peter. The root word of Peter means “rock” and he said that Peter would be the rock on which Jesus would build his Church.
Today, in our first reading, we have one of our first glimpses at Saul. In this episode, Saul isn’t such a great guy. Here, the deacon Saint Stephen is talking to the people and he lays it on the line for them. He tells them that they sinfully rejected the Lord Jesus and were responsible for his death. He said they were just like their ancestors who murdered the prophets that God had sent to proclaim his message of salvation and repentance. The people heard that and were enraged and decided to put Stephen to death by stoning. And it’s Saul, one of the leading members of the Jewish religion, zealous for God, who consents to this stoning and keeps watch over the belongings of the men who were doing it.
But down the road a bit, God has plans for Saul. He’s going to call him to be not just a believer in Jesus, but an apostle, an apostle to the Gentiles. It’s going to be his task to bring the message to people who were not Jews. And to inaugurate his new mission, his name will be changed from Saul to Paul, a name which means “small” or “humble,” perhaps showing how he was changed from an arrogant persecutor of Christians, to being a servant of God.
We’re going to see that play out in the coming days as the Cardinals of the Church come together in Rome beginning tomorrow to pick the next pope, the successor of Pope Francis. When a Cardinal receives the required majority, he is asked if he will accept the role. When he says that he will, he is asked by what name he wishes to be known in his new ministry as pope.
And as you all continue your preparation for Confirmation, you too will have the opportunity to pick a new Christian name. That will symbolize the fact that, having received the Holy Spirit, you now have a new ministry in the world, a task that leads to your life’s vocation.
But there are other important names, too. There is the name of “Christian” which we share, indicating that we are followers of Jesus Christ. But perhaps the most important name that we have is “Child of God” acknowledging our dependence on our loving God who will do anything for us to come to know him more deeply.
Jesus himself was known by many names: “Jesus,” “Christ” (or Anointed One), “Messiah,” and in today’s Gospel reading “Bread of Life.” That name indicates that he came to feed us – not just physically – but our spirits most of all. It’s a name that we can depend on knowing that those who follow him will never hunger or thirst for anything worthwhile, but will always have strength in him.
Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!
Alleluia!
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