Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Our Father, Pt 3: 'Hallowed Be Thy Name'


Dear Parish Faithful,


Here is another excerpt from the commentary of St. Nikodemos of the Holy Mountain on the Lord’s Prayer:


Hallowed be Thy Name

Perhaps the Name of God is not holy, and for this reason we must ask for it to be hallowed?  How can this be?  Is He not the fount of holiness?  Is not everything made holy by Him, both heavenly and earthly things?  So how is it that the Lord now tells us to hallow His Name?  The Name of God in and of itself, is holy and above-all holy and the fount of holiness, and as soon as it is named, everything for which it is called upon is hallowed, while it itself does not sustain any increase or decrease in holiness.  However, God desires and wishes that His Name be glorified by all of His creatures, just as the Prophet and Psalmist David says:  “Bless the Lord, all ye His works” (PS. 102:20).  And He demands this not so much for His sake, but so that they may be hallowed by Him and glorified.  For this reason, no matter what we do, all must be done for the glory of God, according to the Apostle:  “Whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God” (I COR. 10:31).  That is, whether you are eating, or drinking, or anything else, do all things for the glory of God, so that the Name of God may be hallowed also by us.

And it is hallowed when we do good and holy works, just as our faith is holy.  When men see our good way of life faithful Christians give glory to God Who grants us wisdom and strengthens us to do good, while unbelievers come to the knowledge of the truth, seeing how our works confirm our faith, just as the Lord commands us saying:  “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” (MT. 5:16)

St.  Nikodemos of the Holy Mountatin, Concerning Frequent Communion of the Immaculate Mysteries of Christ including A Thorough Explanation of the Lord’s Prayer