Words to Live By: Hallowed

On a recent episode of the game show Jeopardy, all three contestants were stumped. No one tried to answer the $200 question that read, “Matthew 6:9 says, ‘Our Father which art in heaven’ THIS ‘be Thy name.’’’ The contestants were to say what word was missing. A networking engineer on a 5-game winning streak, a nonprofit fundraiser, and a physics graduate student were silent. None of them felt confident about saying the correct answer, “hallowed.” I hope you are familiar with this line in the Lord’s Prayer. For generations, people have prayed it aloud in worship at church, at home, and in many places. We hallow God’s name by revering God, regarding God as holy, and honoring God with our words and daily living. Too often God’s name is used profanely, carelessly, thoughtlessly. May we use our words and actions to show reverence to our Lord, to hallow his name, so that all the world may know our Gracious God. May your week be blessed! Diane Cooke, Pastor, Presbyterian Churches, Willow Springs and Mtn. View.