I am a rock, I am an island

"I Am a Rock" by Paul Simon

A winter's day

In a deep and dark December;

I am alone,

Gazing from my window to the streets below

On a freshly fallen silent shroud of snow.

I am a rock,

I am an island.

I've built walls,

A fortress deep and mighty,

That none may penetrate.

I have no need for friendship; friendship causes pain.

It's laughter and it loves I disdain.

I am a rock,

I am an island.

And a rock feels no pain;

And an island never cries.

Jesus calls Peter a rock. It’s an ambiguous nickname. Yes, rock is solid, reliable, and has a strong foundation. But a rock is also hard, immovable and in danger of isolation. Would you call yourself a rock?

I like this story in the bible. It is interesting because it involves a mutual name-giving between two people, Jesus and Simon Peter. Simon Peter calls Jesus the Messiah, the Son of the living God. This name means the anointed one, like a king. Jesus in turn names Simon Rock, in Greek, ‘Petros’, from where we get his most familiar name, Peter.

Naming is important in most cultures and especially religions. Indeed, in some cultures, it has a mystical, even magical aspect. You do not share your name too readily, knowing a person’s name can give one power over the other, as is illustrated in some stories like the Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula Le Guin. This is also evident in the stories in the bible, for example when Jacob wrestles all night with an unknown stranger and towards the end of the fight asks for the stranger’s name.

Notice again the mutuality in the attempt to learn the other’s name. But in this case, the stranger (God) does not give his name. Presumably, that would be to give too much away.

What is the meaning of your name? Does it have a history or a story behind it? Why was it chosen for you or by you?

The name of Jesus has meaning, both historically and spiritually. In terms of the biblical narrative, it was chosen by Mary through the revelation of an angel. The name ‘Jesus’ is the Latin version of the Aramaic Yeshua, which is in English also the name ‘’Joshua’. The name means ‘God saves.’ Joshua was a hero of the Hebrew scriptures. He was a military leader who fought the Canaanites when the Hebrew people entered the promised land after their exodus from slavery in Egypt. Joshua was successful in battles and his most famous victory was at Jericho.

Jesus was not a military leader but he was a person of salvation. He brought healing to the sick, hope to the poor, and restored the outcast into society. Some Christians ascribe supernatural power to the name ‘Jesus’ which gives the power to cause miraculous healing.

I invite you to ponder two questions.

First, what name do you give to Jesus? Is there a word or metaphor that can describe your own personal connection to Jesus? Can you think of something beyond the traditional names that describe the unique role Jesus takes in your life?

Secondly, what is the name that Jesus gives to you? Is it a name that describes your true being, the essential you? Or is it a name that says who you are becoming or a purpose that God has for you?

I would imagine that these two names are related. The name you give to Jesus will say something about who you are. The name you imagine that Jesus gives to you will say something about the nature of Jesus.