Lent 23 day 5

 Hallowed.

Small child at school asked his R E teacher who Harold was in the Bible.  Teacher scratched his head and said he didn't think there was a person called Harold in the Bible.  Small child said '  But Jesus said ' Harold be thy name' !   😁  ( there is no groan emoji.  I checked)

I can think of very few other places in the English language where we use the word ' hallowed'.   Perhaps we tread the hallowed halls of some venerable old building. And Lords cricket ground is often referred to as hallowed. But apart from that it is a word which has pretty much fallen out of use everywhere except in the Lord's prayer.   I think its a great word.  It conveys more than just being holy.  To me it conjures up images of veneration and awe.  Perhaps of people bowing down.  Because to be hallowed means to be set apart as holy, to be pure, to be consecrated to God - to be ' rendered inviolable' .  

Have you ever met a holy person?  I have.  One or two. I mean someone who you recognise as being so different, so ' set apart' that you feel a bit in awe of their presence.  One of the people who was very instrumental in me becoming a Christian was like that.  He was a trainee art teacher, very quiet and shy with a bad stammer who loved Jesus with all his heart.  He painted beautifully and when he spoke about Jesus he never stammered but was poetic and fluent.  I was in awe of him because somehow I knew he had been in the presence of the Lord regularly and wholeheartedly.  He later went on to become a monk.  I wasnt surprised.



Jesus says that God's name is ' hallowed'.  "According to Hebrew notions, a name is inseparable from the person to whom it belongs, i.e. it is something of his essence. Therefore, in the case of the God, it is specially sacred" (Souter)   When we say His name is holy we are saying God is holy. But we are also saying that His name is to be respected, revered, honoured.  There is something very special about the name of God and the name of Jesus His son.  But funnily enough God needs us in order for His name to be hallowed - because revering, holding something in awe, worshipping, respecting, is an act of one towards another.  I dont think Gods name can be hallowed unless theres someone to do the hallowing.  So perhaps what Jesus is saying when He is teaching the disciples to pray is that they ( we) are to continually bless and revere and hold in very high esteem the name of God.  Which is a bit odd because the Jews held the name of God in such esteem that they didnt ever say it!!! 

Once again Jesus turns the traditions of His religion upside down.  God, who according to tradition is not to be named, is to have His name set apart, esteemed, valued.   Surely this speaks to a whole new relationship which is coming?  A day when God can be named and known and, dare it even be considered, loved? 

God is Holy.  His name is Holy.  His Son is Holy and everything His Son says and does is Holy.  We are not.  Apart from Jesus, nothing about us is hallowed.  So how do we, who are anything but holy, recognise and know holiness when we see it?  How do we know if something is Godly or ungodly?  Truth or lie?  Good or evil.  Angel or prowling lion?  We need to ask for discernment and wisdom.   

In 1 Kings 3:3, Solomon is described in the following positive terms: “Solomon loved the LORD, walking in the statutes of David his father.” One night, the Lord appeared to Solomon and said, “Ask what I shall give you” (verse 5). In response, Solomon answered, “Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?” (verse 9).

If Jesus were to come to you today and ask what you would like Him to give you, what would you ask for?   Solomon clearly already had wisdom in spades because he asked for more of it.  Humbly recognising his constant need for the input of God as he tried to lead his nation in Gods ways.   The Holy Spirit has been given to us to lead us into all the Truth.  He is called the HOLY spirit for a reason - His essence is holiness.   If we ask for truth and discernment God's righteous, kind and generous Spirit isnt going to give us anything else.  If we take off our shoes as we approach the holy ground of God's presence and give Him the reverence He is due then all the things that follow in the Lord's prayer become accessible. Daily bread, forgiveness, deliverance, God's kingdom and His will.

Hallowed be Thy name.


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