2nd Sunday of Easter Yr B (April 15, 2012) Acts 2: 32-39

            This Jesus God raised up, and of that all of us are witnesses. Being therefore exalted at the 

            right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he

            has poured out this that you both see and hear..... Now when they heard this, they were 

            cut to the heart and said to Peter and to the other  apostles, ‘Brothers, what should we do?

            Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ 

            so that your sins may be forgiven; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.                             

            Acts 2:32-33, 37-38

My apologies for falling behind since Easter -- there were too many things left to be done until 'after' and one large commitment only completed this past weekend.

For this season of Easter I am using passages from Acts  of the Apostles which feature the phrase "the name of Jesus Christ.' We hear it; we pray in and through it; we even on occasion swear by it (or just plain use it in swearing!).

But what is it about this name? or any name, divine or not? What is so special about our 'baptism' name or our 'given', 'family', or 'maiden', or 'married' name?

The ancient Hebrews and peoples of the middle east understood that speaking in a person's name meant acting with their authority and power. It is why to this day having a 'letter of introduction' is so valuable when you are trying to gain access to museum's private collection for research, or an interview for an article.

This is why Orthodox Jews even now do not speak the name YHWH aloud, because it would imply having or invoking the divine power to do so. And they are offended by others doing so in their presence.

We baptize in the name of Jesus Christ because we are baptized into a new and eternal life through baptism into his death AND resurrection as we are claimed in love by God the Father and filled with the gift of Holy Spirit. In the end, our baptismal name(s) and the wondrous new family name we are give in that act are all we take from this world. 

And it is all the letter of introduction needed!

     +what's YOUR baptismal name? what's it mean to you?

     +do you remember and celebrate your baptismal date 
        as a second birthday --- not with presents, but with 
        cake and your favorite dinner and family around all 
        retelling the story of your day?

     +how important to you is it to remember other peoples'  
        names in addition to other information about them?  
        what can their names tell you about them?

The baptism that was celebrated during worship this very Sunday! Thanks to Natalie Pontorero for use of her photos (I blurred the next one intentionally).

AG's bulletin for her 'Birthday'..... her baptismal name is hers to share! ......... But I can choose to share mine if I want to: