WHO AM I?: Musings on the Quest for Identity

          Growing up I would often reflect upon my first name, Ryan.  In that reflection I would find myself frustrated pondering about why my parents chose my name for me.  I mean from a purely pragmatic standpoint, I would think, "Why would they name me Ryan?  Didn't they know that everyone from the moment of my birth would call me Brian merely because Brian is a much more common name?"  While I admit that isn't the best of objections to my birth name, there were others that often ran through my head such as:  No one in my family is named Ryan, there are no canonized saints in heaven named Ryan, or with a last name like Bravata wouldn't it have been super cool to be named after a Ninja Turtle or something else super Italian.  Now the first objection to my parents choosing my name can be overlooked because in our modern society it is not that strange to have family members not named after one another, and in terms of being named after a Ninja Turtle, while awesome, it still remains irrelevant to the discussion.  Rather, it is in the second point that we can leave room for discussion.  
          Now before we move farther it is relevant for us to understand the purpose of the name.  When one gives a name, from a biblical standpoint, the person therefore is exercising dominion over the person or thing being named.  For example, when parents give a name to their child they are declaring this is my son or daughter.  He/She belongs to me.  This phenomenon of naming can be seen from the very opening of the scriptures in Genesis 1 & 2 where God names Adam, and in turn, as part of being made in the image and likeness of God, is given dominion over creation.  Namely, he is told to name all of the creatures.  Another example of this is found in the Book of Exodus.  Now, we have all heard the story of the burning bush and, while we can all admit the fact that a bush not only burned and wasn't consumed and that God spoke from it is super awesome, most may miss the "naming" dimension of the story.  At the beginning of the story, God does not call Himself by any particular proper name; rather, he tells Moses, "I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob (Ex 3:6)."  Later, Moses in turn questions the Lord and asks what it is he wishes to be called when the people of Israel ask him; however, instead of giving Moses an actual name He tells him to tell them that "I AM WHO I AM" sent him (Ex. 3:13-14).  This very action has great significance and says a lot with few words.  In this very phrase, the Lord is telling Moses, "You do not have authority over Me, For I AM the one who bestows existence over everything in the world."  So in a sense Lord is and isn't giving him a name, but in the process, the Lord, in revealing Himself to the people of Israel shows that He desires intimacy with His people while, at the same time, maintaing the reverence and worship that is owed to Him.
          So as we can see in the Old Testament, the act of bestowing a name was more than just a practical means of distinguishing between person.  In fact, it was a way in which a person bestowed authority over another and in the human sphere a means to living out man's imago dei (Image and Likeness of God).  On the surface, this may seem like a lot of Trivial Pursuit information, but it is important to understand that it was under this cultural norm that Christianity was formed.  In the same way that St. Peter and St. Paul were given new names upon entering into the New Covenant, early Christians, upon their baptism where given an additional "Christian Name" as a form of piety and devotion to a man or woman who lived a life of exemplary virtue in Christ.  This practice has been continued to today and is documented in the Catechism of the Catholic Church #2156 where it states:

•  In Baptism, the Lord's name sanctifies man, and the Christian receives his name in the Church. This can be the name of a saint, that is, of a disciple who has lived a life of exemplary fidelity to the Lord. The patron saint provides a model of charity; we are assured of his intercession. The "baptismal name" can also express a Christian mystery or Christian virtue. "Parents, sponsors, and the pastor are to see that a name is not given which is foreign to Christian sentiment.

          Before I continue, I would like to mention that my parents did give me a wonderful patron at my baptism in the person of St. Joseph the husband of Mary and foster-father of Jesus so for all intensive purposes my parents did not go against the catechism or canon law (Canon 855) because all that is required is that your first or middle name be after a saint.  That being said the purpose of this reflection is to further look at my first name and how under the guidance of the Holy Spirit it has earned for itself great significance in my understanding of who I am as a son of God.  But to get to know this one must explain what my name literally means.  If you were to look at my name in its Gaelic (Irish) origins you will find out that it translates as "Little King."  Now when I first read this I was like well that is awesome I'm named king, but it was not until much later would I come to understand the significance behind this name.  
          As I came to understand the spiritual significance of my name, the first step of the progression took place while studying philosophy in college seminary.  As part of the curriculuum, we would read St. Thomas Aquinas and learn about the principle of likeness.  According to this principle something can be said to be like something else when there is a similarity in the communication of its form.  This communication can be either perfect (two of the same thing) or imperfect (similar objects) (ST I, Q.4, a.3).  For example, a candle and sun can be said to be like one another:  both give off light and heat, both can burn something, etc.; however, while they are similar they are not the same.  Rather, the candle can be said to be an imperfect reflection of the sun in the sky.  It is from this very principle in which I would come to draw a greater understanding of my identity in Christ.  In the same way that you might refer to a candle as a "little sun,"  I, by my name have been called a "little king" who is destined to reflect and image the true King, The Son of God, Jesus Christ.  From the moment of my creation this has been the calling that I have been called to, a calling unbeknownst to my parents which would be sealed in my person when at the last minute they decided to change my first name from Nicholas to Ryan.  Thus, while my parents did not name me after a saint, it was the Lord's will that I be named after Him in his Kingship.
          Now that we have gone through a long reflection about the first name Ryan, one might ask what does this have to do with all those who are not named Ryan? In short the answer is everything.  Regardless of whether or not your first name is Ryan, each of us has been called by our Baptism to live a life of holiness that is rooted in the person of Jesus Christ.  As St. Paul says in the Letter to the Galatians, "for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ (Gal. 3:27)."  In other words, by the act of our baptism we "put on Christ" so much so that we bear it in the name of Christ in calling ourselves Christian ("Christ-ian")  Thus, by the very act of our baptism, we must all learn to be likenesses of the king in our daily lives.  God Bless.


In Christ,
Ryan