Called by Name: The Precious Identity That Ends All Fear
“For the Souls in Purgatory – Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord”
Isaiah 43:1-7
But now, thus says the LORD, your creator, O Jacob, and he who formed you, O Israel: Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name: you are mine. When you pass through the water, I will be with you; in the rivers you shall not drown; When you walk through fire, you shall not be burned; nor will the flame consume you. For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your savior. I give Egypt as your ransom, Ethiopia and Seba in exchange for you. Because you are precious in my eyes and honored, and I love you, I give people in return for you and nations in exchange for your life. Do not fear, for I am with you; from the east I will bring back your offspring, from the west I will gather you. I will say to the north: Give them up! and to the south: Do not hold them! Bring back my sons from far away, and my daughters from the ends of the earth: everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.
Grace Prayed For
The grace to internalize the truth of being precious in God’s eyes, allowing this secure love to eradicate fear and empower us to share that identity with others.
Reflection
This passage isn’t just history; it’s a deeply personal message from our Trinitarian God affirming our true Identity and Purpose. The most intimate declaration here is: “I have called you by name: you are mine.”
Imagine Jesus speaking those words directly to you right now. He knows the chaos and the uncertainty (“the water,” “the fire”) you face, yet He anchors your entire existence in His unwavering, possessive love. This is how Jesus has impacted my life and yours: He took the ultimate risk, redeeming us at the cost of Himself. The phrase, “Because you are precious in my eyes and honored, and I love you,” is the foundation of our entire mission.
This passage helps us grow in intimacy by reminding us that we are precious—not for what we do, but because of who He is. When we receive this truth, fear melts away (“Do not fear”). Our Purpose is then revealed in verse 7: we are created for His glory. Our mission, therefore, is simply to let the truth of our beloved identity shine forth by bringing His presence (“I will be with you”) into the world.
Our Baptismal mission of partnering with Jesus to restore all of God’s creation is framed by this promise: we are the sons and daughters He is gathering from the ends of the earth. We are called to share the reality that the God who formed and made us will be with others, too. When we live out this secure, beloved identity, we become the fearless voice that says to the despairing “north” and the complacent “south”: “Give them up! Do not hold them!” We call others home to the One who knows their name.
Daily Evangelization and Baptismal Mission
Evangelizing in Day-to-Day Life
Our mission flows directly from the confidence of our identity as the beloved: Personal Testimony (Receiving Love): When someone asks how you manage difficulty, be open about the difference Jesus has made by giving you a clear sense of self-worth. “I used to fear failure, but now I know I’m loved—I’m —regardless of the outcome.” This shares how Jesus has impacted your life by giving you an unshakeable identity.
When Time Allows Reflect on the Posts in Library and Musings
Sharing
Jesus last words on Earth were to his disciples, can be found in Matthew Chap 28 when Jesus told his disciples, “Then Jesus approached and said to them, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”
Jesus calls all of us to share in his redemptive mission here on Earth. I would ask you to share this Scripture reflection with your family, your friends and your acquaintances, and then share it with a couple of individuals that you may may not be comfortable sharing with, keeping in mind always the words of Jesus, And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age
Author was assisted by AI in the drafting of this Post