On the African continent, naming is a very important ritual. Children are often given names that say something about the context in which they were born. Recently a young man proudly told me that his name is ‘Blessing’. His mother had struggled to fall pregnant. When she did, and he was born, he was called Blessing because his parents believed that
only God could have blessed them with a child after their struggle. He was a living sign of God’s blessing. Names give us our identity; they say something about who we are and what or who was important to or for our parents. They reveal who we belong to.
When addressing an elder or someone professionally, we do not dare to call them by their first names. Instead, we use a title and perhaps their surname – like Mrs Khumalo. This shows respect and that we are not being personal or familiar with an elder or stranger.
In the book of Exodus, God calls Moses by name. He not only attracts Moses through the burning bush, but when Moses gets close, God calls him by name. In fact, God repeats Moses’ name. He knows exactly who he is and calls him directly by name, in a familiar and personal way. God knows Moses.
God calls each of us by name too. The Prophet Isaiah tells us that God has called us by name, that we belong to God (Isaiah 43:1). God desires to have a personal and familiar relationship with each of us. Sometimes we have been formed to think that God is aloof or distant and that we must keep a safe distance! Yet in Lent, as St Augustine says, we
discover that God is very close to us, even closer to us than we are to our very selves.
Take time today to reflect on your own name and what it means to you. Perhaps you know why your parents gave you the name you have – you might even want to find out if you can why you have your name.
Then, talk to God about how you may have experienced God calling you by name.
Do you feel that you have a personal and familiar relationship with God?
What might you do during this time of Lent to hear yourself being called by name, tenderly, by God?
