Voice

“Just like our mother, He calls us by our name, by the name we're fondly called at home, by our nickname.” (Saint Josemaría).

Saint Mary Magdalene (Bernardino Luini)

I have been reflecting on the words of Saint Josemaría who said, “Just like our mother, He calls us by our name, by the name we're fondly called at home, by our nickname. There, in the depths of our soul, He calls us and we just have to answer: Ecce ego quia vocasti me – here I am, for You have called me.”

And I have been thinking about that today.

I have a very dear friend, who is quite funny too. I remember a story that she tells that is quite funny, when she describes the different ways that her husband addresses her depending on the different things she has done that could possibly be annoying him at that current time.

When he is furious with her for example (which is a very rare occurrence), he does not even use her name at all, because he is so angry he cannot trust himself to address her personally. When he is angry, he calls her formally by her full first name. When he is a little annoyed but otherwise in good spirits, he calls her by her nickname. And, when he is happy with her he calls her all the little endearing things that husbands call their wives when they feel happy with them…

Now, the way that my dear friend tells this story is quite hilarious because she focuses on how the way she is called by her husband determining whether she is liked, loved or even possibly hated in that moment…

And I have been reflecting on that, because this friend has been married for many many years and so has a very very familiar relationship with her husband…

You see, in just the same way that her husband calls her name, and my friend can recognise his mood, so too should I listen to the voice of my Beloved in my soul, but unlike my friend’s husband, my Beloved in unchanging and eternal…

And that means that my name on His lips, my name in His voice is unchanging…

Mary Magdalene proved that to me…

“Mary stood weeping outside the tomb... she turned round and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping? Whom do you seek?’ Supposing Him to be the gardener, she said to Him, ‘Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have laid Him, and I will take Him away.’ Jesus said to her, ‘Mary.’ She turned and said to Him in Hebrew, ‘Rab-boni!’ (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, ‘Do not hold me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, I am ascending to My Father and your Father.’” (John 20:11-18).

For Mary did not recognise Christ when she saw Him until He called her name. There was something there in that name in that voice and in that tone – perhaps the depth of love that Mary recognised despite all the apparent impossibility of this…

And I am wondering today whether I recognise Him too when He calls my name. For I have a feeling I am not listening well enough to hear…

For with prayer, I stand on Holy Ground where everything is clear. Here. At the Foot of the Cross.