Posted by The WORD in other words (2019) by Fr Xene Sanchez SVD – Kinshasa, Congo
What is your name? This question you heard so many times since childhood. You have filled out countless forms with your given name, family name and middle name. You might even be surprised seeing your name on the Internet. In the cemeteries, on every tomb is written a name representing a person. Your name is your identity. And the Lord calls you by your name.
Today‘s Gospel tells us the story of the naming of the child who was Jesus precursor. Here we encounter beautiful names affluent with meanings. The happy mother is Elizabeth, “oath of God.” The father, who became dumb because he doubted God‘s message, is called Zechariah, “God has remembered.” The two names together read “God has remembered what he has promised.”
On the eighth day after his birth the neighbors and relatives participate in the ceremony of circumcision, which parallels our rite of baptism. They suggest naming him after his father, but Elizabeth, speaking in behalf of her impaired husband, proposes an unfamiliar name.
On his turn, Zechariah takes a tablet and writes down “John is his name” — meaning, “the Lord has shown favor.” Immediately after that, Zechariah regains his speech. There is rejoicing, amazement, and holy fear. The very first words of Zechariah are prayers blessing God. The birth of the child John announces the great event of God‘s saving intervention.
When God called Moses to liberate his people he revealed to him his name — YHWH. We have the good habit of making the sign of the cross in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit as we wake up and before we go to sleep. Every day we pray “Hallowed be thy name” (not mine).
May we live up to our names as CHRIST-ians!
