Andrew… first found his own brother Simon and told him, “We have found the Messiah,” which is translated Christ.
We are called by many names – depending on who calls us or how the person calling us feels at that time. Ever since, my nickname is “Jun” or “Jhun”, having the same name as my father, hence, a “Junior”. But in elementary days, I am either called “Roberto” (my baptismal name) or “Manacsa”. No one among my classmates called me by my nickname. Only through college and when I started working were I am called by my nickname Jun. This time around, most of my colleagues didn’t even know my real name.
My wife would call me “Love” or “Labing” during better times. On otherwise, bad times, she would either call me “Jun” or “Pssstt” sound. Then I know I have done something that is not good. At work now, I would be called “Sir”, “Bossing”, “Engineer”, “Manager”. And these, of course, signifies respect for the individual or shows one’s status.
In the gospel today, we were introduced to the first disciples of Jesus – Andrew and Simon. The latter became one of the three main apostles, along with James and John, who were chosen by Jesus to be present during certain important moments of His ministry. He was even called by Jesus as “Cephas” (Aramaic: "stone," Greek: "Petros," which in English is rendered as Peter). From there the Gospels paint a colorful picture of Peter as an eager and energetic figure who had both notable successes and failures in his journey with Jesus. In the end, he held on to his “nickname” and became a powerful witness to the Christian faith.
Let us pray +
Almighty Father, O God, who hast given unto Thy blessed Apostle Peter the keys to the kingdom of heaven, and the power to bind and loose: grant that we may be delivered, through the help of this intercession, from the slavery of all our sins: Who livest and reignest world without end. Amen+
“Pray for us that we may be made worthy
of the promises of Christ.”
"You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church.”
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