Name Calling

It’s a big day when baby begins trying out language and starts to utter sounds like ‘dog,’ ‘mom,’ or ‘dad.’ Such power! It’s a big deal when a name can be attached to something or someone.

Naming makes connections.

God ‘made every kind of wild animal, tame animal, and every kind of thing that crawls on the ground. God saw that it was good but gave Adam the authority to name all creatures great and small. In simple terms, we often name our pets with names of endearment. Usually, the name given at baptisms is a keeper honoring a saint or a relative who carried that name. There’s a connection.

God’s bestowing on Adam naming rights gave him, and by extension, the human race, to be a co-worker in God’s creation. There’s more to this than just labeling. Here is a creative process working within God’s plan that divinely orders everything. God said everything He made was good. And we are obligated to respect that which is good, to give honor and praise.

“The Canticle of Daniel” (Daniel 3:57-88,56) sings out to all of creation to bless the Lord. Give praise. We are called to be compassionate and sensitive to all of God’s creations.

From the story of creation to the Canticle of Daniel to Pope Frances’ Laudate Si, here are the primers, the animators, to awaken our awareness of the importance of naming. There is recognition once a name is given, and that connection makes us truly human.

Every morning, we can give praise for this good creation that has been entrusted to our care.

Prayer:

Most High, all-powerful, all-good Lord, all praise is Yours, all glory, all honor and all blessings. To you alone, Most High, do they belong, and no mortal lips are worthy to pronounce Your Name. (From “Canticle of Brother Sun and Sister Moon” of Saint Francis of Assisi)

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