Words by Bev Jones
Called by Name
Some of you may be familiar with the Lectio365 daily devotions by Pete Greig. If not, they are worth checking out, but if you follow them, you’ll know that each day as you begin the devotional, you are asked to pause. The words used are as follows:
'As I enter prayer now, I pause to be still; to breathe slowly; to re-centre my scattered senses upon the presence of God.’
Photo by Javardh via Unsplash
It seems to me that those instructions are exactly what we need at this moment in time. Our world has been ravaged and our senses are completely scattered. I think that must have been exactly how Mary Magdalene felt when she went to Jesus’ tomb and found it empty. John’s version of events is the one that I love because it has this conversation between Jesus and Mary that includes Jesus calling her by name. We’re told that Mary has mistaken Jesus for the gardener, and wants to know where her Lord’s body is:
He asked her, ‘Woman why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for? Thinking he was the gardener, she said, ‘Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.’ Jesus said to her, ‘Mary.’ John 20: 15-16 (NIV)
At that moment, she knew exactly who it was. In the midst of her suffering and distress, Jesus called her by her name, and she recognised him. As we comfort those who grieve today, or even as we grieve ourselves, we must never forget that God grieves with us. His heart breaks with ours, and he knows each one of us by name.
Photo by John Mark Arnold via Unsplash
As you enter prayer, pause to be still, breathe slowly, re-centre your scattered senses upon the presence of God – and allow him to call you by name.
- Bev Jones
13/4/20
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