I Have Called You By Name

The seventy[-two] returned rejoicing, and said, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us because of your name.” Jesus said, “I have observed Satan fall like lightning from the sky. Behold, I have given you the power ‘to tread upon serpents’ and scorpions and upon the full force of the enemy and nothing will harm you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice because the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”

Luke 10:17-20

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A Joy Beyond Power

The disciples returned to Jesus, brimming with excitement. They had cast out demons and performed wonders in his name—a thrilling display of spiritual authority. Yet Jesus gently redirected their focus. Their true joy, he said, should not come from these temporary victories but from something far deeper: their names are written in heaven. This is no ordinary calling—it is the eternal assurance of being known and loved by God. 

Gifts Are Not Our Identity

The gifts and roles we receive—whether as teachers, healers, or leaders—are vital to the Body of Christ. They enable us to serve, uplift, and strengthen one another. But these roles, or charisms, are not who we are at our core. Even Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus, once cast out demons and healed the sick (Matthew 10:1; Mark 3:15). Spiritual gifts, as powerful as they may be, do not define or sanctify us. As St. Paul reminds us, without love, these gifts amount to “nothing” (1 Corinthians 13:1–3).

The Spirit distributes charisms for the good of the Church, like parts of a body working together (1 Corinthians 12). These roles can be shared—many can be apostles or prophets—but our “name” in heaven is utterly unique, a mystery known only to God and the one who receives it: “I shall also give a white amulet upon which is inscribed a new name, which no one knows except the one who receives it” (Revelation 2:17).

Known Before Time Began

Our deepest identity is not tied to what we do but to who we are in God’s eyes. Before the foundation of the world, the Father chose us and called us by name (Ephesians 1:4). This name reflects our incommunicable, one-of-a-kind identity, “hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3). While vocations like preaching or serving are callings we share, our name is personal, eternal, and unrepeatable, rooted in the Father’s love.

Jesus’ Unshakable Identity

Jesus himself modeled this truth. When his disciples fled and left him alone, he was not shaken. “I am not alone, for my Father is with me,” he declared (John 16:32). His confidence rested in his identity as the Father’s beloved Son, known and loved “before the foundation of the world” (John 17:24). Like Jesus, we are invited to find our security in the Father’s intimate, unchanging call.

The Mystery of Who You Are

Our vocation—our roles and gifts—is a beautiful part of God’s plan, but it is not the whole story. Deeper than our actions, our true identity is a mystery concealed in the heart of the Father. He calls us not just to do, but to be—to rest in the name he has given us, a name that declares, “You are mine” (Isaiah 43:1).

Rejoice, then, not in what you accomplish, but in who you are: a beloved child of God, known by a name written in heaven, unique and cherished for all eternity.

For star differs from star in brightness.

1 Corinthians 15:41

During the day its gates will never be shut, and there will be no night there.

Revelation 21:25

Traditional Chinese Translation

《我曾題你的名呼召了你》
我曾題你的名召你，
你是屬我的。

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