Called By Name

Called by Name

By Sara Caporaletti

Lent is a time for returning to the Lord with our whole hearts, a season dedicated to deepening our relationship with Him through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. In recent years, I’ve come to view Lent as my own personal “new year,” a time to reflect after settling into the calendar year and to focus on areas in my life that need growth or change. Rather than giving up something superficial; a habit I often return to after Easter Sunday, I prefer to add something meaningful to my Lenten journey. This "addition" is always something spiritually enriching, aimed at helping me live more intentionally during the 40 days.

This Lent, I am preparing for a small solo art exhibit, and the process of gathering materials and creating new work has proven to be both a creative challenge and a test of endurance. As much as I love being an artist and expressing myself through various mediums, carving out time for these creative pursuits can feel difficult, especially after a long workday. Yet, when I’m tired and reluctant to keep going, the simple act of picking up my fabric and making a few stitches reminds me of the joy and privilege of using the gifts God has given me. In those quiet moments, I reconnect with the truth that Jesus sees me, knows me, and calls me to follow Him, something I often forget, but that brings me great comfort when I remember.

Today’s Gospel highlights Jesus’ call to the tax collector Levi (Matthew), inviting him to leave everything behind and follow Him. It’s a deeply personal call, and one of the most touching moments in The Chosen is when Matthew looks up, hearing his name, and sees Jesus looking at him with such love and kindness. It moves me to remember that Jesus looks at me with that same love. He calls me, Sara, by name, and my response must be to follow.

This Lent, my prayer is that we all draw nearer to Jesus as He calls us, each of us by name.

Preparing for Holy Week