The power of a name

"Of course" said my daughter "when you get down to the heart of it, it's all about Jesus." I always think of this when I hear the story of Mary Magdelen's encounter with Jesus after the resurection. She doesn't recognise him. Why should she? She's just seen him die a terrible death. Then, gently, he says her name "Mary" and she knows, she knows for absolutely certain, that it's him. No one else has ever has or ever will say her name as tenderly and as lovingly as he does. I have this wild hope that one day he will say my name like that and I'll know...it's him. No one will ever say my name like he will.