"What's in a name?"
I’m thinking of Shakespeare’s
famous quote during the holiday season. In this season of Advent, for example, we
are reminded of the prophet Isaiah’s titles as he predicted the coming of a
savior: Immanuel, Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father,
Prince of Peace.
Then, when that savior was
born, which we celebrate on December 25, his real first name emerged. Dr. Luke
tells us, On the 8th day, when it was time to circumcise him,
he was named Jesus.
More names and titles came
after that: Emmanuel, Christ (the Anointed One), Savior, Lord, Son of
God, King of Kings.
In later life though,
things changed. When people became aware of that fact that this Jesus was a controversial,
no nonsense itinerant preacher, the name-calling wasn’t so pleasant! Even church
leaders used words like Blasphemer, False Prophet, Demon Possessed, Wine
Bibber!
Let’s face it. Times haven’t
changed all that much. We may start out with sweet names for our little babies,
but in no time at all they grow up, and with that come new and more unpleasant
names.
It continues as we grow older. And it’s not just on a bar stool or in TV news that one might hear some bully spouting bad names. You’ll hear it when people get together, even in family gatherings and business meetings.
I’m not excluding myself, here. When I’m driving alone, I want no one to hear what I call that driver who cuts me off, the one who tailgates me with his brights on, or that dude who just fails to comprehend the simple procedures of a four-way stop!
My work is among prisoners, and you can only imagine the name calling that goes on there, not only among prisoners, but between guards and prisoners.
All of this leads to some observations during this season of Advent, 2025. I don’t think there’s any argument over the fact that “name-calling” and “bad-mouthing” are worse than ever: bullying in schools, cyber bullying, similar stuff among drivers leading to road rage, for example. I blame some of this on “trickle down.”
In 2018 Republican President George H.W. Bush called for a “kinder, gentler nation.” This many years later we have a President from the same party who seems to espouse just the opposite. We have a leader who would like to “punch a protestor in the face,” and who irritatingly calls a female journalist, “Piggy.” The problem is that when he chooses to call the governor of a state a “sleazebag,” a reporter a “retard,” or when he labels everyone from Somalia as “garbage,” the whole world is listening! It’s being done on a global stage. That seems to offer approval of similar behavior among his constituents.
But, we can’t place blame without including ourselves. All of us share in occasional inappropriate comments and responses. Change obviously isn’t going to start at the top, so I'm suggesting that it’s up to us to start at the bottom.
As we light the Advent Candle of Peace, let’s vow to do our part by positively responding to that suggestion from President Bush long ago. Let’s heed this advice from St. Paul to the Ephesians: Get rid of bitterness, rage, anger, shouting, slander, and any kind of malice. Instead, be kind, compassionate, and forgiving—just as God has forgiven us. And, let’s pray that our actions are contagious.
This is the proper way,
methinks, to observe the season that welcomes the Prince of Peace.
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