His Name Is John

"What's in a name?"  For many cultures, naming the child is so important that it is ritualized and celebrated with feasting and dancing, for the name signifies the essence of this member of the family, a special blessing to be invoked, or a hope that the family has for the child.  Rwandans give a name at birth, usually with God included in it, such as "gift of God".  or "God is near."  Then a Christian saint's name is given at baptism.  In South Dakota, the Lakota wait until the child is older and has demonstrated some gift or trait that identifies him or her...An elder or grandparent "feathers" the child...pins a feather in his or her hair at a "feathering or naming ceremony"; the child receives gifts, as do the people in attendance, food and dancing follow.  To receive "an Indian name" is one of the highest honors a person can receive, especially a non-tribal person.
All of this comes to mind as the scene at John's circumcision unfolds.  Naming him John,  breaks the tradition of naming the first-born son after his father, but in this case indicates that "Yahweh is gracious".(The meaning of John).  Truly, the mission of John was to prepare the way for the coming of our God, in the person of Jesus among us, and  thus to open the way for grace and salvation.
Do our names reflect something of who we are, or what our mission is?  Perhaps our confirmation names, since we chose them, signify a bit more of who we are or hope to be. Whatever the case, many we be true to our names, to who we are.
Bro. Rene