What’s In A Name?

“If I’m gonna tell a real story, I’m gonna start with my name.” (Kendrick Lamar)

In today’s readings, names are at the center of the story and each name tells a story.

In the reading from Genesis, God “renames” Abram and calls him Abraham. His name goes from being “exalted father” to “father of a multitude.” This name change sets the stage for the story that will unfold where Abraham (and his wife Sarah) will become the first of many generations with whom God has made a covenant.

Later in John’s gospel, Jesus is going back and forth with the crowd about Abraham and Jesus’ relationship to the God of Abraham. At the end of this passage, Jesus says to them, “Amen I say to you, before Abraham came to be, I AM.” And the crowd goes berserk and wants to kill him!

This may not mean that much to us, but I’d invite us to remember back to when God appeared to Moses in the burning bush. Moses says, “Hey, if I do go to the people of Israel and tell them their God sent me, what do I tell them is your name?”  And God says, “I AM (Who I AM).”

So for Jesus to use this name for himself is for him to say that he and the God of Moses are the same person with the same name.

As the brilliant rapper, Kendrick Lamar, says above, if we’re going to tell a real story, start with the name.

Lent is a time to tell real stories. Lent is a time to start with names.

Maybe we could start with our own name. How did you get your name? What does it mean? Is it connected to some significant figure in your family or culture somehow? Has your name changed or has its meaning changed for you over time?

As a counselor, I spend a lot of time with people hearing their stories. I am frequently amazed when I hear someone’s story how meaningful their name is to the emerging themes in their life. Quite often, their name embodies a characteristic that is coming forth in their life or is being called forth.

In addition to the name that we claim, God has a name for us. And that name also carries a story. One name might be “beloved.” Another might be “my child” or “friend.” God may also call us “salt of the earth” or “light of the world.” There are many tender and meaningful names that God might choose for us.

In our prayer time today, reflect on the meaning of your own name. Is there something from that name (or the story that it represents) that you need today? And reflect on the name that God might be calling you today? What does God want you to know by calling you that name?