What’s In A Name?

There’s an old baseball story about a game in which the Cleveland Indians were playing the Chicago Cubs in Chicago. It was the ninth inning and Cleveland was leading 3-0 as Chicago came to bat for the last time. The first three Chicago batters reached base safely. With the bases loaded, the Cleveland manager called in a young relief pitcher. The first ball thrown by the new pitcher was promptly hit over the center field fence: a home run! The game was over; Chicago had won, 4-3. Later, in the clubhouse, the young relief pitcher went over to the Cleveland team’s star pitcher, Bob Feller — one of baseball’s “all-time greats.” “Bob,” he said, “Tell me how you would have pitched that ball?” Bob Feller replied, “Under an assumed name!”

In today’s Gospel Lesson, it almost seems as though Jesus is praying to the Father under an assumed name. “O Father most Holy,” He prays, “protect them with Your Name which you have given…