When my daughter was just under 1 year, I remember presenting myself with a beard and hair shaved. She cried and refused to come to me till I called her by name. She paused, listened and observed. She suddenly recognised me. Mary in her distress, sadness and loss was unable to recognise Jesus. She expected a dead body wrapped in burial cloth. That was the image she expected. But amidst this she heard her name called, and she knew (my sheep knows my voice – John 10:27) just like my daughter knew it was me. We restrict Jesus according to our ideas and expectations. Mary reveals an important key. She recognised his voice. She broke through the darkness that surrounded her to hear him call her name. Do you hear his voice? It may not be an audible voice, perhaps a scripture, an image or a sense heightened to feel his love. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you experience him and hear his voice. So when we face our trials we too recognise his voice calling us by our name.

PRAYER: Abba Father, help us to hear your voice. Help us know you by the unmeasurable measure of your love for us. Amen.