How many people in the...
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How many people in the history of the human race, once they have caught the vision of what their own name means, actually live up to it? In some cases the name we know them by comes afterwards, or after they have risen to a level worthy of it. Kings and popes have often been named "The Great" because they were. In some cases, physical appearance has made nicknames (which later become memorable "handles") easy to attach: ... Barbarossa ("red-bearded-one"), ... The Fat ... The Bald ... The Great ..."
The Hebrews, whose tradition Christians have inherited, made much of names and hoped, in the naming, to give a legacy to the child, one which he or she could "live into." A son named "Na-than" could not ever quite forget he was a "gift of God" (what a terrific name to have!); nor could a youngster named, as I am, "Mi-cha-el" ("he who is like God") live complacently, forgetting the expectations laid upon him.
This pericope deals with the name which Jesus gives to Peter. In the slang of modern movie makers, we could put these words in Jesus' mouth: "Peter, you are Rocky -- go out there and knock 'em dead!" That catches a good deal of Jesus' emphasis, although he banned the fisticuffs. The name, and what it means, and God's good promise to authenticate it, was all Peter needed. "Peter. Rock. The staunch and solid one."
Today the church salutes him, with his partner, Paul. Thank God for these two Rocky-types. The church is founded on the work they did, in part inspired by the new names God gave them.
The Hebrews, whose tradition Christians have inherited, made much of names and hoped, in the naming, to give a legacy to the child, one which he or she could "live into." A son named "Na-than" could not ever quite forget he was a "gift of God" (what a terrific name to have!); nor could a youngster named, as I am, "Mi-cha-el" ("he who is like God") live complacently, forgetting the expectations laid upon him.
This pericope deals with the name which Jesus gives to Peter. In the slang of modern movie makers, we could put these words in Jesus' mouth: "Peter, you are Rocky -- go out there and knock 'em dead!" That catches a good deal of Jesus' emphasis, although he banned the fisticuffs. The name, and what it means, and God's good promise to authenticate it, was all Peter needed. "Peter. Rock. The staunch and solid one."
Today the church salutes him, with his partner, Paul. Thank God for these two Rocky-types. The church is founded on the work they did, in part inspired by the new names God gave them.
