Do you know how your parents chose your name? Maybe they had significant ending to choosing every piece that they did. Maybe they just really liked how the name sounded. I know that for my husband and I, when deciding on our daughter's name, we wanted to find something special, unique and significant for her, and that can take a great amount of thought, time and consideration. You grow into a name, it's special, part of your identity. However, your personal identity is much more than just your name, but includes the whole person you are, with actions at the top of the list. God had made each of us in His very image and Likeness. Who is God calling you to be?

Today's Gospel states: 'In these days he went out to the mountain to pray; and all night he continued in prayer to God. And when it was day, he called his disciples, and chose from them twelve, whom he named Apostles; Simon, whom he named Peter, and Andrew his brother, and James and John, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon who was called the Zealot, and Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor' (Luke 6:12-16).

Today's reading talks about how God Calls His apostles by name to go follow Him and bring His teachings to the people. We are all created in God's image and likeness to go forward being disciples. God calls each of us by name, as with the 12 Apostles, to go out it not the world and be people of faith through our actions, and gifts given specially for each of us. Take some time today to think about your name, and the gifts God has given you associated with you as a person.

Today we pray:

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for making me in Your very image and likeness. Help me to cherish the fact that You are calling me by names and to be Your disciple in every area of my life.

I pray in Your most holy name, Amen.