Jesus is interested in what we call Him and what we call ourselves. He asked Simon the fisherman, “Who do you say that I am?” The fisherman’s reply was definitive and without hesitation, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Our Blessed Lord continued, “Blessed are you, Simon, son of Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Heavenly Father [has revealed it to you], and so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it.” (Taken from Matthew 16: 15-18) Our Lord, Jesus Christ, gives Simon the surname Peter. An important meaning is attached to this new last name for this fisherman.

Throughout Holy Scripture and the Old Testament writings God tells us that He is not to be mocked nor commit blasphemies against His Holy Name. Next, we see that God rewards Simon by giving him a new surname, a last name telling us Simon Peter is considered at that moment to be a son of the family of God, a name which means rock, not a small stone but something massive, a foundational one to build up His Church. Similarly, at our Baptism we are given a special name. “I have called you by name; you are Mine.” (Isaiah 43:1) And when we reach our end, God will call us back by that same name, not a nickname, because we are His beloved and we are expected to live up to our Baptismal name and promises; that is to say, we are to renounce Satan and all his works and empty promises, so that we remain the apple of His eye and His heirs as sons and daughters of God.

Once upon a time, when I was standing before the registrar to receive my driver’s license, I leaned over the counter to sign a document handed to me and when I was finished, I received a stone cold look by the registrar who reprimanded and warned me, “Do not mess with your name.” I had signed it with my full Baptismal name, which differed from my Birth Certificate bearing my legal name. Names mean a great deal whether by governmental agreement or by God Himself who knew our name before we were born. I grew to appreciate how special and honorable is our Baptismal name because of its history and origin. And I’d say the same thing about our God-given Baptismal name, “Don’t mess with it.” Knowing that it has been given to us by God and was called out at our Baptism and all of Heaven rejoiced, and again at our First Holy Communion, at our Confirmation, at our Wedding, at our Ordination and then by God Himself at our end when he calls us back, it's a big deal.