Presbytera Pat was recently in Baltimore with her sister, an accomplished violist and two other fantastic musicians who are part of a group called Our Joyful Noise. OJN is a nonprofit group that offers free, live musical performances of the highest professional quality to underserved and often forgotten communities in the Baltimore area. One of their concerts was performed in a women's prison, with about a hundred women in attendance, a full house!
The Power of Names and Being Seen
Presbytera shared that these women were all beautiful, joyful, engaged and appreciative. She said that everyone was glowing, attentive, singing and full of life. Even if you knew of their felony, their crime, or why they went to jail, you would want to visit and get to know every one of these amazing women.Â
These women all have a name and it isn't illegal. It isn't criminal, murderer, rapist, thief, drug addict, prostitute, or inmate. They all have a name, not a label. They are all God's beloved daughters. They all want the same thing every child of God wants: to find love, to experience kindness, to be accepted, to be respected. This is what Jesus offers to us! He wants to get our attention. He notices us and calls us toward Him so we can be embraced with His compassion and love!
But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. —Isaiah 43:1
When we look at the scripture reading for this past Sunday, we read about Zaccheus, who wanted to step into the light to see Jesus. He fights his way through the crowd to have a look from afar. His burning desire "to see who Jesus was" led him to climb up into a sycamore tree to get a better view. As Jesus passed by, He noticed Zaccheus, stopped, and called him by name, telling him to come down and dine with Him: "Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house" (Luke 19:5). I am sure Zach was shocked—a tax-collector, being invited to dine with this Holy Man?!
You see, Jesus didn't say "Hey, tax collector, come down." He never labeled a woman prostitute and he didn't call out "Hey, crazy man, you want to be healed?" to the possessed man at the tomb. No, He called Zaccheus by name, and He calls each of us by name too:Â
"Thanasi, come down from your busy life!"Â
"Maria, put down your phone so we can meet."Â
"George, stop running and hiding—I love you."Â
"Whatever sycamore tree you're in, come down! I want to meet you, to know you and be known by you."
Christ shows us that each one of us matters to Him, and He knows and calls us by name. But we must want to be with Him. Christ will never force a relationship with us, we must choose to walk out into the light (or climb down out of the tree!) and meet Him!
Love Will Find Us In The End: Daniel Johnston's Story
This is what I love about Jesus, He is alert, He is available. He wants to find us and become united with us but we have to be looking for Him! At our recent clergy couples retreat in Orlando, Fr. Rob Spaliatsos shared a song by Daniel Johnston called True Love Will Find You in the End. The song promises true love will find us, but with one catch—we have to be looking for it too.
You see, Daniel Johnston had a hard life. He had mental health struggles, and while he loved art and music, his parents discouraged him from pursuing his dreams. After leaving college, he worked in a traveling circus before settling in Austin, Texas. There, while working at McDonalds, he recorded his music on a cheap store-bought tape recorder, and gave away his homemade cassette tapes to customers who came to eat at McDonalds.Â
He wrote many songs which gained fame in the 1980s, including True Love Will Find You in the End, which touched me so much when Fr. Rob sang it. I'm not sure who Johnston's true love is, but I believe Jesus, our True Love, is looking to find us! Yet, like the song reminds us, this promise Jesus offers has a catch: we must actively be looking for Christ, seeking to glimpse Him, like Zacchaeus was when he climbed that Sycamore tree. Then, whether we are in the crowd or up a tree, Christ will find us and call us by name!
A Beautiful Song, A Powerful Message
Here are the lyrics to this beautiful song. I'm also including a recording of me singing it! Enjoy!
True love will find you in the end You'll find out just who was your friend Don't be sad, I know you will But don't give up until True love will find you in the end This is a promise with a catch Only if you're looking can it find you 'Cause true love is searching too But how can it recognize you If you don't step out into the light, the light Don't be sad, I know you will Don't give up until True love will find you in the end —True Love Will Find You in the End by Daniel Johnston
May we be like Zaccheus, burning with desire to see Jesus and be seen by Him. When True Love finds us, life's illusions will be unmasked. We will gain true vision, the darkness will be dispelled and the divine light will shine through us! When True Love finds us, nature transforms, people are transfigured, and time becomes sacred and filled with holy moments!
God makes all things new when True Love finds us!
Blessings to all!
+fr. Tom
Originally published in the Holy Apostles E-bulletin. Subscribe here.
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