Nothing is more personal than a name. We all love to hear our name called, and perk up our ears when we hear it. We’ve all experienced the awkwardness of forgetting someone’s name. Unable to evoke their name, we can’t renew our relationship with the person. At large gatherings we are given name tags.
Without a name you are a stranger.
Remember in school years ago when attendance was being taken, sister or the teacher would call out the names and students would answer “Here”. ‘John Jones, “Here”, Mary Smith, ‘Here”, Betty Johnson, “Here”.
This week’s reading, the calling of Samuel and the Psalm, asks us to answer again the same way……’John Jones (insert your own name), answer “Here I am Lord, I have come to do your will.”