Hallowed.

                            

The Lord's Prayer begins with the words:

"Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name...."
Matthew 6:9 (NRSV)

Note that it says hallowed be your name, not hallowed is your name.

And because the name of a god indicates his essential nature this is an important distinction.

Too often this has been understood as hallowed - i.e. holy - is your name - i.e. your essential nature.

But this is not what it says.

It says hallowed be your name - i.e. blessed and respected be your name.

So God is not distant, sacrosanct, and separate.

God is approachable.

And the Name of God is Love.


[Scripture quotations (marked NRSV) are taken from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission.  All rights reserved.]

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