Called by Name

Zacchaeus, despised as a chief tax collector, seeks Jesusin a crowd. Jesus calls him by name and desires to visit his house. Zacchaeus receives Him joyfully and shares his wealth generously with the poor. How do we share God’s Name with others? Recently I received a lengthy phone call from a man whom I had not seen for 70 years, asking if I remembered his name. Because I remembered him, he told me his story of struggles and conflicts. But his story began when a Christian teacher called him by name as a 6th grader and invited him to play his guitar for the class. That affirmation led him to a career of building high quality guitars, but most importantly, through the study of Scripture and the Catechism, he continues his unwavering belief in Jesus as his Savior.