How much emphasis do we put on names? Is it important?

How much emphasis do we put on names?: Is it important?

Perhaps we should take care to remember those who are closest to us and especially if their presence becomes a matter of respect.  

Have among yourselves the same attitude that is also yours in Christ Jesus, Who though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped.  Rather, he emptied himself, taking on the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross.  Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name that at the name of Jesus  every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.  (Phil 2: 5 - 11).

I remember when I was still very young a priest at our parish would pull back a little and bow each time he read the name of Jesus; when reading the gospel or preaching.  It was a sign of the greatest respect and honor to the Lord Jesus as he was following this reading from Philippians.  That was then and is now the only time I ever witnessed this show of the greatest respect and honor to our Lord Jesus Christ when in the pulpit.  What an example of the highest honor for our Lord.  

There are moments when some of us might have a slip of memory when we meet someone whom we know but forget their name.  That is not uncommon for some especially if the years have taken some of our memory and clouded it.  However, the need to keep our ability intact might be necessary to work with puzzles or writing in a journal to use the language we were given as we grew older.

This is not a narrative to remind us to guard our forgetfulness but a certain reminder of the importance we should use when people expect us to remember who they are and the opportunity to give them a feeling of importance.   

Sometimes the names of certain characters in the Bible were changed to specify a particular function with meaning that God used for his purpose.  Abraham began as Abram.  When Abram prostrated himself, God continued to speak to him:  “My covenant with you is this: you are to become the father of a host of nations.  No longer shall you be called Abram; your name shall be Abraham, for I am making you the father of a host of nations.  I will render you exceedingly fertile; I will make nations of you; kings shall stem from you.  I will maintain my covenant with you and your descendants after you throughout the ages as an everlasting pact, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you.”  (Gn 17: 3 - 7). 

“Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father.  And I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.”  (Mt 16: 17- 18).  The presentation to  the apostle who proved to be ready to take over the reigns of our Church then and now.  

Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came.  So the other disciples said to him, “We have seen the Lord.”  But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”  Now a week later his disciples were again inside and Thomas was with them.  Jesus came, although the doors were locked, and stood in their midst  and said, “Peace be with you.”  Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side and do not be unbelieving, but believe.”  Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God.”  (Jn 20: 24 - 28).

Didymus means Twin or double and refers to us who also doubt in the same fashion.  How many still do not believe and become a Didymus person.  

Ralph B. Hathaway