Jesus, please call us by name!

"Jesus said to her, 'Mary!'"

John 20:16

 

I love that he used an exclamation point!  As I was typing this, I needed to double check if it had an exclamation point and it did! I love that!  Mary didn't recognize Jesus outside the tomb until he called her by name.  Just like in the TV show "Joan of Arcadia," Joan could only be sure she was talking to God when God used her name.  That was her sign.  Unfortunately, in our lives, the Jesus we encounter each day, through our work and travels, may not always call us by name.  If that was the case, it would be much easier to see Jesus in the guy with all the tattoos at the gas station or the snippy cashier at the convenience store.  Then, would we be more inclined to show kindness?  Would we be more inclined to converse?  Or maybe Jesus is the family member with whom we struggle.  If he called us by name would we be more inclined to forgive? If every time Jesus crossed our path he used our name would we recognize him? We will all encounter Jesus today.  And, just like Mary at the tomb, we won't recognize him.  Until he calls us by name.  Let's look harder this Easter Tuesday!  Exclamation point!  Love, heidi