Midweek Musing- 3/11/26: Known by our Name

Recently on social media I saw a series of pictures that show how people’s names were hilariously misspelled by baristas at Starbuck and Dunkin and such.

For example:

Michelle becomes “Missle.”

Erin becomes “AIR INN.”

Caitlin becomes “Kitten.”

One man reportedly told the cashier his name was “Stephen with a ph.”

His receipt came back reading “Phteven.”

Now in an attempt to provide these folks an excuse and be fair, coffee shops are noisy places. The machines are loud, orders are flying, and sometimes names get misheard.

But that said, the truth is that there is something about our name that matters to us. Our name is personal. It is how we are recognized. It is how we belong.

In fact, for years now I have emphasized to teachers that the most beautiful word a child ever hears is their name.  And every year I make it a goal to learn every new staff member’s name by the end of their second day with us.

Knowing and using people’s names is one of the main reasons we now have nametags at church. Because people feel seen when we call them by their name.

Now all that said there have been times when I forget or worse yet get a name wrong. I imagine all of us have made that mistake. But while people sometimes get our names wrong, scripture reminds us that God never does.

Through the prophet Isaiah, God speaks these words to a people who felt lost and forgotten:

“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;

I have called you by name, you are mine.”

(Isaiah 43:1)

This is not the language of distance.

It is the language of relationship.

God does not simply know humanity in general.

God knows people in particular.

God knows our names.

And our stories.

And our very hearts.

And Lent reminds us how often we misunderstand that.

Of just how often we fail to recognize what God is doing right in front of us.

Just like Mary Magdalene on Easter morning.

If you remember Mary stood outside the tomb weeping. The world she thought she understood had collapsed. And even when the risen Christ stood right in front of her, she did not recognize him. She thought he was the gardener.

Grief can do that.

Fear can do that.

Confusion can do that.

But then Jesus said one word.

“Mary.”

That was all it took.

In that moment she recognized him—not because she suddenly understood the theology of resurrection, not because she had everything figured out, but because the Good Shepherd knew her name.

Even in her confusion.

Even in her grief.

Even before she believed.

Lent is often a season when we realize how much we do not understand. About faith. About ourselves. About the world.

But the good news of the gospel is this:

Even when we misunderstand God,

God never misunderstands us.

Even when we feel lost,

God knows exactly who we are.

Even when the world gets our name wrong,

God says,

“I have called you by name. You are mine.”

And sometimes all it takes is hearing our name spoken with love to realize that we are not alone after all.

And friends, that is the Good News wrapped up in your very name.

So, hear this: God who created heaven and earth knows you personally. And calls you by name.

In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Alleluia Amen.