Do you realize there is power in the names we bear? Names are important not just because of what they signify or mean but because names confer identity and project one’s destiny, mission, and purpose in life! It is a ritual action involving the body and soul, not just a social act. But sadly many persons bear funny names or give creepy names to their children. Many experience some form of bondage or consistent irregularities in their life because of the names they bear. God from whom man learned the act of naming shows us the way but many of us have deviated! Are you in doubt about the power of names; read slowly…
(Luke 1: 63-64)
Zechariah asked for a writing-tablet and wrote, ‘His name is John.’ And they were all astonished. At that instant, his power of speech returned and he spoke and praised God. All their neighbors were filled with awe and the whole affair was talked about throughout the hill country of Judaea.
POINTS FOR REFLECTION
1. Names confer meaning, identity, destiny, and mission. In the Bible when names are given or changed, destiny or mission is conferred or changed. We see these in the cases of Abram and Sarai whose names were changed to Abraham and Sarah respectively (Gen 17:5), Jacob to Israel (Gen 32:22-28), Simon to Peter (Matt 16:18), Disciples to Apostles (Mk 3:14); and those whose names portray their destiny in the persons of Jesus (Matt 1:21), and John the Baptist (Lk 1:63).
2. The name John means Yahweh (God) is gracious- a name which signifies both the fulfillment of God’s promise to save humanity; and the mission of the child as the one that will herald this fulfillment! Hence his naming opened the lips of his father sealed by unbelief! Hence he (John) called himself “a voice” (John 1:23) which prepares the way for Jesus- “the WORD” of God (John 1:1;18).
3. The Bible tells us John grew up and his spirit matured (Lk.1:66) he realized his name in the Word of God as a promise fulfilled because God called, anointed, and named him from his mother’s womb (Isa.49:1) as the Prophet Isaiah has prophesied and he responded to his destiny by visioning himself as that “voice” Isaiah prophesied about.
4. What is your name? What is the meaning of your name? What is the root of your name or the names you give your children; do they find their meaning, purpose, and connection in God or some fetish, diabolical, deity, ugly events, or some ancestral worship or evil covenants?
TASK: For the baptized: at your baptism, you were given a new name. Try to understand your name and the circumstances surrounding the choice of your name? Doing this can help you get connected with your destiny encoded in that name. Also, try to understand your other names (like a family name) by digging into your family roots to understand your family name.
▪︎Fr. SimOne Madu, OSJ
Image source: Book of Bible Stories online.
