You know, there is something almost presumptuous in Jesus changing Simon’s name just like that, the first time of meeting him. For parents, choosing a name for their new-born child is something that most take a deal of time to do. Imagine if, having gone to all that trouble to do it, a perfect stranger was to come along and demand to change that name. It was even more serious for Jews. They would choose their child’s name from the Bible, after much prayer and reflection, and only God Himself was allowed to change it.
Changing someone’s name means to change their destiny, and purpose in life. “Simon” is a Hebrew name that means “one who hears”, which is a pretty good name already for someone who is called to be a disciple of Jesus. But now Jesus calls him “Cephas”. In Aramaic, this word means “rock”. In Greek it is petros, from which, of course, we get the name “Peter”. The one who listens now becomes the rock, which indicates his unique role in the community of believers. He will be first among the apostles and serve as the foundation of the church. Catholics believe that this role continues in the bishop of Rome as the visible center and teacher of the faith community. That this office did not end with Peter’s death can be deduced from the fact that this account, and another one in Matthew’s gospel (Matthew 16:18) of Jesus changing Simon’s name to Peter , were remembered and recorded by the faith community well after the apostle’s death.
We are OK with what Jesus does to Peter, because we already know Jesus is God. But the first disciples hadn’t quite got there yet. They were ready, as we see in the gospel today, to call Jesus a “rabbi” (or teacher) and Messiah (or anointed one of God), which was already quite the stretch of faith for a Jew, given that all Jews saw the coming of God’s Messiah as a world-changing event , and the inauguration of Gods’ kingdom or reign. But it would take more time before these first apostles of Jesus would come to the conclusion that Jesus was not just rabbi, or Messiah, but the Son of God Himself. How does this new awareness happen? Our gospel today gives us the answer. Two words “stay” and “see”. We have a saying, don’t we, that “seeing is believing”. In John’s gospel, that is quite literally the truth. For John, “seeing” Jesus means to see him in faith, and grasp with one’s mind and heart who he really is- more than just a man, or a prophet, more even than just a messiah. He is God’s Son and unique emissary, the one from “above”, the link between heaven and earth. This kind of “seeing” is possible only in faith. Faith is, however, more than just having the right beliefs based on accurate information. It is a special, personal, intimate relationship with Jesus, and through him, with all of the members of the Trinity – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Faith is a way of life, of relationship, which comes only through spending time with Jesus.
This is where the other important word from our gospel today, comes in: “stay”. The two disciples of John the Baptist who follow Jesus ask him “Rabbi, where are you staying?” Jesus answers them “Come and see”. It is an invitation to spend time with Jesus and come to know him for who he really is. This is not going to come about by simply “popping in” for a short visit to pray, or very occasionally going to Mass. To “stay” with someone, is to abide with them, remain with them, spend time in their presence. Since the two disciples spent the whole day with Jesus, and this began, we are told, at four in the evening, biblical scholars suggest that the Jewish Sabbath was about to begin, when no unnecessary work was to be done. So Andrew and the other disciple would spend the day in prayer and conversation with Jesus…a wonderful encouragement for us to take seriously our Christian “Sabbath”, the Sunday , and keep it special, by spending some time in prayer and reading God’s word, the Bible. It is not just another day of the week. The Church calls it “the Lord’s Day”, because it was on a Sunday that Jesus rose from the dead and changed the world forever. Of course, prayer is something we need to be doing every day of the week. Here, at St Philip’s, we provide adoration before the Blessed Sacrament, which is literally spending time in Jesus’ presence, on Monday and Thursday afternoons. It is my dream to one day be able to have the church open 24/7 for prayer and adoration. But that requires people who want to “stay” and “see”.
Jesus says to his disciples, and therefore to you and me, again in John’s gospel: “Abide in me, and let me abide in you, just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15: 4-5). Get that, brothers and sisters, “nothing”. Nothing. Nothing can we do for the Lord, unless we “stay” with him and “see” him, and see the world through him, through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, who brings our faith in Jesus to perfection. To “stay” and to “see” – now there is a really worthwhile New Year resolution!!