Saturday 4th Week of Advent
Gospel – Luke 1:26-38
Called to Be!
Basilica of the Annunciation, Nazareth
I am called William Joseph Frere Jr. And where did that name come from? I am the first-born son of my father William Joseph Frere. I am named after my father! I carry his name, his memory, his example and guidance, within me every day!
Years ago when Ginger and I were looking over options to name our soon to be born daughter, we settled on Jamie! However, we still wanted it to be unique, special. So we changed the spelling to Jaime. As it turns out, if you add an apostrophe, it becomes J’aime – in French – I love! So very appropriate!
We hear in today’s Gospel the story of the naming of the son of Zechariah and Elizabeth – John the Baptist!
“Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son,
and you shall name him John.
And you will have joy and gladness,
and many will rejoice at his birth,
for he will be great in the sight of the Lord.
He will drink neither wine nor strong drink.
He will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb,
and he will turn many of the children of Israel
to the Lord their God.
He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah
to turn the hearts of fathers toward children
and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous,
to prepare a people fit for the Lord.”
And where did that name come from? From the Angel Gabriel! Wow, talk about a story to pass on in the family! He was called John! He was called to BE a prophet, the herald of the Messiah!
What about you? Where did your name come from? Is there a history? A story? A memory? A family connection? A religious one? And don’t stop there. What was your Confirmation name? What is the history, the story, of that name? Finally ask yourself – what are you called? What are you called to BE?
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