Hallowed

Over the past couple of days, we’ve been looking at the Lord’s Prayer, reflecting on how each line in and of itself might be a resource. We continue those reflections today.

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus begins the prayer, our Father… in heaven. 

Our Father, who is above and bigger than all that is, but who is as close and intimate as a parent – as near as your next breath. Hallowed be your name. 

In Hebrew thought a person’s name was their character, their identity.  To say that something is holy or sacred is to say it is not mundane but other. I always think of this as adoration – to begin our prayer by recognizing that God is awesome and holy, beyond anything we can imagine. 

You are merciful, loving, generous, good. 

To me, this phrase sets things in perspective. This is simply a reminder that I’m drawing close to God who is far beyond me, so much bigger than all of my issues and struggles.  Even though I know that God will not always answer my prayers when and how I want, I trust that God is good. 

You are holy. Hallowed be your name.

The next line is: “Your kingdom come.”  

God set things right. 

This is a recognition that things are not the way God wants them to be. There’s still pain, and war, and hunger, and broken relationships.  You can think of this phrase as an invitation to pray for the world. 

What’s broken…? What’s hurting…? What needs tending…? In here? In your family? In your church? In your community? And in the world?

In the gospel of Matthew, Jesus adds, “Your will be done, on earth as in heaven.”  The idea here is that we would begin to pray, “God help us to care about what you care about, help us to want what you want. That’s not an easy prayer.  But it is a prayer that relieves us of the burden of believing the weight of the world rests on our shoulders.

Let’s pray today with that in mind. Let us pray:  You are holy and majestic and good, O God. May your kingdom come, and your will be done, in our hearts, in our lives, in our families, and in the world. Help us respond to you. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

 How do you want me to respond, O God?