Our names, be they family or personal, are very important to us; they are part of our very selves and we define ourselves by them. Little children, for example, are sometimes reluctant to tell us their names. Lovers have their own private, special names for one another. A change of name often signifies a change of status and responsibility. Names do mean a lot to us.

In today's Gospel one by one, the shocked Twelve, address Jesus as "Lord". Lord is a name implying reverence and affection. There is, however, one exception. Judas addresses him as "Rabbi". Rabbi means a teacher. As used in the Gospels it suggests a lack of intimacy or affection. There is at times a suggestion of hostility in its use.

The name "Lord" is acceptable to Jesus: He also refers to himself as "Son of Man". In John 6:69 Peter tells Jesus that he believes He is "The Holy One of God". Did Thomas fall on his kness as he addressed "Jesus" as "My Lord and my God?"

Today's first reading suggests another name which we could apply to Jesus. Isaiah writes of a suffering prophet or a suffering servant who would give all for the truth and all for his people. This person who was yet to come will receive blows open his back. His beard will be plucked and his face will be spat upon. His injuries and insults are incurred for us and for the truth. He is our suffering servant.