Each week in the lectionary there are several readings from various portions of the Bible. One thing I love about this is the way it allows the passages to speak to one another or highlight something as important, depending on what else I’m reading it alongside. Often, it is clear that those putting together the lectionary saw themes in a few of the readings that made them decide to pair them.
This week, one of the themes that I noticed particularly in the readings from Exodus 33:12-23 and from Isaiah 45:1-7 was the idea of God calling us each by name.
There have been many days recently when I feel lost. When things are particularly challenging, I can feel lost and small and unimportant. (Sometimes I find this helpful when I get too focused on the minutiae of life, but other times it leaves me feeling invisible in an unhelpful way.) Do you ever feel like this, too?
This week, in those moments of feeling small and invisible, I’m working to remind myself that God calls me by name. We may each feel small and insignificant, but we are each still worthy of love and recognition by God. I hope you can remind yourself of this too, in whatever moments you need it. What a wonderful mystery this is.
Thanks be to God!
Hannah Campbell Gustafson
Associate Chaplain for Christian and Interfaith Life