Sunday, May 19, 2019

What is in a Name? 5-19-2019

Worship on Sunday, May 19 …


╬  “What’s in a name?”  A great deal, in fact!  Scripture is filled with names – of people and of places – with profound meanings.  And it is full of stories of re-naming as significant events or revelations of character take place.  The word “onoma” translates from the Greek as “name” but means so much more.  Onoma expresses the character, the essence and fullness of what is named.  We see examples of true onoma emerging in the lives of Jacob/Israel, Saul/Paul, Simon/Peter.  God re-names as God consecrates people to new purpose.  We, in turn, wield considerable power as we name the world around us!

  Below are the Prayer of the Day and Readings. 

 Blessings to you all in the Eastertide!

 - Pr. Brad Highum
bhighum@abidinglove.org



PRAYER OF THE DAY ------------

God of all, by the power of your Spirit you are naming us.  In calling us to share life and ministry in you, you are calling forth the fullest expression of ourselves, of our identity rooted in you.  Shape us according to your goodness and grace.  Amen.

READINGS -----------------------

First Reading:  Genesis 32:22-31

22 The same night he got up and took his two wives, his two maids, and his eleven children, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. 23 He took them and sent them across the stream, and likewise everything that he had. 24 Jacob was left alone; and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. 25 When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he struck him on the hip socket; and Jacob's hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. 26 Then he said, "Let me go, for the day is breaking." But Jacob said, "I will not let you go, unless you bless me." 27 So he said to him, "What is your name?" And he said, "Jacob." 28 Then the man said, "You shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with humans, and have prevailed." 29 Then Jacob asked him, "Please tell me your name." But he said, "Why is it that you ask my name?" And there he blessed him. 30 So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, "For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life is preserved." 31 The sun rose upon him as he passed Penuel, limping because of his hip.

Psalm 113

1 Praise the Lord!  Praise, O servants of the Lord; praise the name of the Lord.

 2 Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time on and forevermore.

 3 From the rising of the sun to its setting the name of the Lord is to be praised.

 4 The Lord is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens.

 5 Who is like the Lord our God, who is seated on high,

 6 who looks far down on the heavens and the earth?

 7 He raises the poor from the dust, and lifts the needy from the ash heap,

 8 to make them sit with princes, with the princes of his people.

 9 He gives the barren woman a home, making her the joyous mother of children.  Praise the Lord!

Second Reading:  Acts 9:19-29

For several days Saul was with the disciples in Damascus, 20 and immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, saying, "He is the Son of God." 21 All who heard him were amazed and said, "Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem among those who invoked this name? And has he not come here for the purpose of bringing them bound before the chief priests?" 22 Saul became increasingly more powerful and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Messiah.  23 After some time had passed, the Jews plotted to kill him, 24 but their plot became known to Saul. They were watching the gates day and night so that they might kill him; 25 but his disciples took him by night and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a basket.  6 When he had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples; and they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him, brought him to the apostles, and described for them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had spoken boldly in the name of Jesus. 28 So he went in and out among them in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord.

Gospel:  Matthew 16:13-19

13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" 14 And they said, "Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." 15 He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" 16 Simon Peter answered, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." 17 And Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."
Posted by at