Hallowed Be Thy Name
Grace and peace to you from God the Father and our Savoir Jesus Christ.
Today we are starting a series on the Lord's Prayer. You may remember from confirmation that the Lord's Prayer is divided into an introduction, seven petitions, and a conclusion. Today we are starting with the first petition, Hallowed be Thy name.
What can we say about a name?
A Name can simply mean the sounds or letters that refer to a specific person. David the son of Jesse refers to a specific person. That is the way most of us think of the word name.
A Name can also signify reputation or status. David had a great name among his enemies as a great warrior king. Today, we might be afraid of damage to our name if we bounced a check or somehow became entwined with matters much more serious.
A Name can refer to the totality of a person. In terms of God a part of His name stands for His whole name. We don't know God's whole name it could be the summation of everything He has done. In scripture God "made his name to dwell" in the tabernacle and the temple. This was a way to speak of the presence of God without saying it in entirety.
A Name also refers to the authority of God or a person. A pastor forgives in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. In the same way an ambassador speaks in the name of the United States.
Names in the ancient world often were considered a means of stating power over another person. To know someone's name often meant you had power over them. When Jacob wrestled with the man, on the bank of the Jabbok River, he demanded a blessing. The man gives Jacob a new name, Israel, which implies that the man now owns Jacob.
For many people in the ancient world to know God's name meant you had some authority, which is why it is so important to Moses to have a name for God when he returns to the Israelites in Egypt. God gives a name for Moses to call Him, I AM.
In the Small Catechism Luther wrote: God's name is certainly holy in itself, but we pray in this petition that it may be kept holy among us also. God's name is kept holy when the Word of God is taught in its truth and purity, and we, as the children of God, also lead holy lives according to it. Anyone who teaches or lives contrary to God's Word profanes the name of God among us.
Luther is drawing out for us in simple terms what is being stated over and over in scripture. It's not enough to know His name we need education about Him we need to know what the scriptures say about Him. Luther also reiterates the importance of living a holy life to the glory of God. The Lutheran tradition relies heavily on education about scripture and having a repentant heart that tries to turn away from unholy things.
As you may know the Small Catechism was written for fathers to use in instructing their children. Perhaps instructing is a poor word to use, a better word is impressing. Instruction without a sense of significance for what is taught is marginal at best. Instruction with example of its significance impresses the student. In other words for the lesson to be meaningful our actions must match our words.
It is not enough to have crosses and pictures on the walls and not spend time to impress upon the family their importance. Its said that a child will learn 80% of everything he will ever learn by the time he enters kindergarten. Parents, especially fathers, do impress their children in either positive or negative ways.
We have this crazy culture that indoctrinates us with the thought that we have to work harder to provide the best for our families. We are impressed by the material things around us. Marketing firms and peer pressure makes us think we need all of these things. And yet we also see many people with all of these gadgets and disposable incomes that are unhappy. We see families in turmoil, people in desperation because they have no hope; they live only for the moment.
We as a culture are impressed with worldly treasures and impress upon our children this is the way to live by our actions. What if we were as diligent about impressing our children of the importance of heavenly treasures?
For that matter what if we impressed others with our love of God. What if we impressed others with our steadfast faith in Jesus Christ? I think you would find that living the holy life Luther talks about would accomplish both.
You may be thinking I can't live a holy life, I make mistakes, and sometimes I even intentionally cause hurt. Guess what so did every servant God selected except for His own son Jesus Christ. Moses and David were murders yet God accepted them.
God stood beside them all and welcomed then back. He welcomes His people back hundreds of times. If we make the same mistake a thousands times it will not matter to Him if we turn back to Him with a repentant heart.
God knows we can't live the perfect holy life, but He has made us holy with our baptism into death and life again with Jesus. In baptism our name was added to His list of chosen children. He has infused us with holiness through the Holy Spirit dwelling in us.
Parents and grandparents joyfully accept the calling you are given to impress upon your children and grandchildren that God's name is hallowed. His holy name is so important that our very lives reflect His holy nature.
Followers of Christ, Christians, impress upon others your steadfast faith in a liberator from hopelessness, a Savior that died so we can live, a God that cares for every one of us and every one of those we meet in our walk with Him. God's holy name is so important that our very lives need to reflect His holy nature.
In the name of our Risen Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.
