Open Reflections

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The Lord’s Prayer

A meditation in eight parts of the Lord’s prayer

Part 2

Hallowed be thy name

At first glance it seems quite paradoxical to ask God that His name be Holy. Is not the God and Creator of all that exists holy? Is not God, our heavenly Father (see part 1) from whom all holiness comes holy?

Well, this line of the Lord’s prayer has to do with the fundamental attitude we need to have while we pray. In its brief simplicity it states the condition sine qua non (necessary condition) for our prayer to be real.

“Hallowed be thy name” is the first step, so to speak, on which we see our relationship to God the Father in a challenging and exciting manner. To acknowledge His name as Holy means that we approach Him with humility, awe, respect and attention. Not only we relate to God thus, but we think and speak of Him in the same way. At the same time we see ourselves as we really are, i.e. wanting in holiness, erring and searching, Only God is Holy, we, however, have been enabled to participate in His holiness through the Incarnation of His only Son, Jesus Christ. “I came so that you may have life and have it in abundance” says the Lord (John 10, 10).

Perhaps, not holding the name of God as holy is the most serious sin of our times. Using God’s name in vain, offensively or in a blasphemous way has as a result the collapsing of man’s justification; all his endeavours come to nothing if his attitude is one of denial, refusal and derision of God’s holiness. Then there is no hope to a brighter future, not because God “punishes” that man, rather that the person is blind to God’s goodness, beauty, mercy and love. God is holy, is another way to say God is the All Other, the Absolute (free from all restrains).

The vision of the person who denies God’s holiness is sad, truncated and leads to pessimism and despair. It is important to deeply believe and acknowledge our heavenly Father’s holiness. Our Catholic faith brings forth from generation to generation this revealed truth, namely that God is Holy and we are participating in His divine nature (holiness| by grace (2 Pet. 1, 4) so that we can live life to the full starting from this world and continuing “in heaven” for evermore.

It is for good reason that in every Holy Mass in East and West the Church sings the well-known and loved hymn:

Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of Hosts. Heaven and earth are full of your glory; Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is He who comes in the name of the lord. Hosanna in the highest.

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