Epiphany 2 Year A sermon notes

Isaiah 49:1-7, Psalm 40:1-12, 1 Corinthians 1:1-9, John 1:29-42

       

Today we hear a different perspective of last week’s gospel.

• Last week - from Matthew, from Jesus’ perspective, focused solely on Jesus

• This week - from John, from John the Baptist’s perspective, focused on Jesus and followers

• New part changing of Simon’s name

Names

• The names are so important. They tell who we are and how we relate to the world.

• family history, job, relationships

• For example: parent’s named me Lauren Michelle Lenoski - Michelle after my dad Michael, siblings call me sister, teaching Miss L, now Reverend Lauren, soon Mrs. Schoeck

• same person and yet different in each relationship

• Jesus is known by so many names: Rabbi, Son of Man, Good Shepherd, Messiah, Emmanuel, Son of God, Prince of Peace... just to name a few.
  

If we look to scripture we can also see many examples of the importance of names:

• In Genesis God has Adam name everything

• Times where names are given because of specific meaning

• Adam and Eve’s 3rd son is named Seth “the one to replace Abel”

• Naomi (from Ruth) who asks to be called Mara which means “bitter” since she has lost her husband and sons

• Naming signifies transformation

• Abram and Sarai become Abraham and Sarah after they form a covenant with God

• Jacob becomes Israel after he wrestles with an angel all night and proves himself worthy

• Today’s gospel - Simon becomes Cephas, which translates to Peter and means rock

So what are the names you are known by?

• What do those names say about your family history?

• What do they say about how you relate to others?

• What do they say about your relationship with God?

While most of us have not undergone a name change as significant as those in the bible we have each been changed by our relationship with God. Through baptism we experience a transformation in our relationship with God and with each other through our baptismal covenant.  We will never be the same and can never go back to who we once were.  While our name stays the same, it takes on a new meaning as we are marked as Christ’s own.  This gift of transformation is freely given by God and it is up to us to take it and live into it.  The names we carry in this place and out in the world will remain the same, and still have significant meaning, but by our baptism, by claiming Christ as our path to God, by proclaiming to the world the Good News through word and deed, our names become a way of life. And we are then known by the name of Christian.