Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni,” which means Teacher. // John 20:16
I sported my purple JanSport backpack through all of junior high—because, well, it was the 90s. The only thing about it was the black sharpie screaming out three bold letters across the back: “F-A-T” courtesy of a classmate standing behind me in line after art class one day.
When I discovered the graffiti after school, I didn’t tell anyone; I just tried to hide it. Washing it out, scribbling over it in pen, sharpie, magic marker, whiteout, you name it, I tried it all to no avail. No matter how much I covered it over, after a time, those three little letters came showing through my scribbles; and ultimately imprinting themselves on my heart.
Names, things we are called, impact us, form and shape our identity—for good or for ill. If we’re not careful, we start to believe them. Then those names and things people tell us about ourselves become our identity, and we lose sight of who and what we really are—beloved daughters of a loving Father.
I’ve been called a lot of things in my life, some good, true, and beautiful, some, well, not. I had to learn what the voice of Truth, Beauty, and Goodness sounded like so that it can overpower the voice of the evil one who does not want us to know who we are.
Sister, Jesus knows your name, the Father knows your name, the Holy Spirit knows your name. They speak it in love, drawing your heart to the truth of who you are and calling your heart to respond in faith and freedom to His plan for you.
Jesus, help me today to hear Your voice speak my name, telling me who I am, and calling me to mission for the salvation of souls. By the power of Your Spirit, drive far from my heart the false identities that speak over me; call my name anew today that I might respond “Rabbouni” and turn to You Who teaches me who I am!
Jesus knows your name. // Sister Maria FatimaClick to tweet
Sister Maria Fatima grew up in Rhode Island and entered the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist in 2005. She holds a MA in Theology from the Saint Paul Seminary School of Divinity. Sister is in her eleventh year of enlightening middle school minds and drawing hearts to Jesus while teaching religion and history. She currently resides at the motherhouse in Ann Arbor, MI, having previously taught in Texas, Florida, and Ohio. She is a contributing author to our Lent devotional All She Had.
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