The Gospels contain a powerful story.  After Jesus’ death, one of his closest disciples, Mary of Magdala, arrives at Jesus’ tomb, perhaps to lay some flowers, and discovers it opened and bare.  She suspects the worst: someone has ransacked the grave and removed the body.  Aware that there is someone else nearby in the garden, she assumes that it is the local groundsman, and approaches him to ask whether he knows where Jesus’ body has been taken.  Mary does not get the answer she hoped: instead the stranger speaks her name “Mary”.  Everything changes, the stranger comes into focus, and it is Jesus.  This is the astounding claim of Christianity.  Beyond death, Jesus is alive. Amazed, Mary lets out a gasp: “Teacher” she cries.

This simple exchange is a picture of Christian faith.  God knows each of us by our name; he calls to us tenderly, using that name, and saying it in a way which captures all of who we are and what we do. And we are invited to call him “teacher”, to discover in his ways, in his teaching, in his suffering, in his mercy, the healing of our wounds and the path to fullness of life.

Our world in 2025 is topsy turvy.  The ways of boasting and of violence, of injustice and of loss seem to be in control.  But still God speaks our name in our hearts, and says, “Look at me.  In me you will find life and balm for your soul, for my life is true life, and in me you will find peace.”