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What's in a Name?

a parable by Fr. Joseph K. Horn

In the beginning, all the gods and goddesses were lined up and were told, "Please state your name, explain what your name means, and say what special thing you do that makes you different from all the other gods and goddesses."

The first one stepped forward and said, "My name is Poseidon, which means 'master of the waters.' I am the god of the seven seas. None of the other gods or goddesses control the seas. Only I do that."

Some other gods and goddesses said, "That's right, only Poseidon controls the seas. We wish we could, but we can't."

Another stepped forward and said, "My name is Chronos, which means time. I am the god of time. None of the other gods or goddesses control time. Only I do that."

Some other gods and goddesses said, "That's right, only Chronos controls time. We wish we could, but we can't."

One by one, the gods and goddesses stepped forward, said their name, said what their name means, and said what special thing they do that makes them different from all the other gods and goddesses.

Finally, the last one stepped forward and said, "My name is Yahweh, which means 'I Am'. What makes me different is that I Am; I Am Real; I exist. None of the other gods or goddesses actually exist. Only I do that."

The other gods and goddesses were about to say, "That's right, only Yahweh actually exists. We wish we did, but we don't." But they never had a chance to say that, because they suddenly vanished from sight, because they didn't exist, and never did.


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