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2025 Lent News Reflection

Hallowed Be Your Name

Week 2, Sunday: Hallowed Be Your Name

Scripture: “This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name…’” (Matthew 6:9)

As we enter the second week of Lent, we move deeper into the Lord’s Prayer with the phrase, “Hallowed be Your name.” To hallow means to honour as holy, to revere, and to set apart. This petition is a call to recognise the holiness of God’s name—not just in our words but in the way we live our lives. When we pray these words, we are expressing a desire for God’s name to be revered in our hearts, our communities, and indeed, throughout the world.

In the Christian tradition, the holiness of God’s name reminds us of the sanctity and majesty of God’s character. His name embodies His essence—His love, justice, mercy, and sovereignty. To pray “Hallowed be Your name” is to acknowledge that our actions and words either honour or dishonour who God is. It is a call to live in a way that reflects God’s character, striving to embody Christ’s love in our relationships, our service, and our witness to the world.

This petition also ties directly to the Commandment, “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain” (Exodus 20:7). To honour God’s name goes beyond avoiding misuse in speech; it encompasses the integrity of our entire lives. We honour God’s name when we act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with Him. Every act of kindness, every word of truth, every step towards justice is a way of hallowing God’s name in our daily lives.

Hallowing God’s name is woven into a life of humility, simplicity, and reverence for all creation. St. Francis of Assisi, in his Canticle of the Creatures, praised God by recognising His presence in all living things—calling the sun, moon, wind, and even death, his brothers and sisters. The holiness of God’s name is reflected in the beauty and interconnection of creation. To honour God’s name is to treat every person, every creature, and every part of the natural world with reverence and care.

This perspective challenges us to expand our understanding of what it means to hallow God’s name. It is not confined to worship or prayer alone but is demonstrated in how we care for the earth, how we build peace in our communities, and how we see Christ in the faces of the poor and marginalized. Be a testimony to this—the holiness of God’s name reflected in acts of peace, compassion, and a profound respect for all life.

To hallow God’s name is also to be instruments of peace, as St. Francis prayed: “Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace.” When we work for reconciliation, when we forgive, when we serve others with humility, we bring honour to God’s name. We become living witnesses to His love and holiness.

Reflection Questions:

  1. How do your actions and words reflect the holiness of God’s name?
  2. In what practical ways can you honour God’s name in your daily life and relationships?
  3. How might our approach to creation and simplicity inspire us to live more reverently?

Prayer:
Holy and Loving God, hallowed be Your name. May our lives reflect Your holiness in all we do. Help us to honour You not only with our lips but with our hearts and actions. Inspire us to see Your presence in all creation and to walk humbly, seeking peace and reconciliation. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

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2025 Lent News Reflection

God’s Majesty and Transcendence

Week 1, Saturday: “In Heaven” – God’s Majesty and Transcendence

Scripture: “This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven…’” (Matthew 6:9)

As we come to the close of this first week of Lent, we pause to reflect on the phrase “in heaven”—a reminder of God’s majesty and transcendence. While “Our Father” speaks of intimacy and closeness, “in heaven” expands our vision to behold God’s holiness and glory, far above our human limitations. This balance of intimacy and majesty is at the heart of our faith, inviting us to approach God with both confidence and reverence.

To speak of God as being “in heaven” is to affirm that God is not confined by the brokenness of this world. God’s ways are higher than our ways, and His thoughts higher than our thoughts (Isaiah 55:9). This transcendence is a source of hope, especially when the weight of life’s troubles feels overwhelming. God’s sovereignty assures us that no situation is beyond His power to redeem. The One who created the stars and calls them by name is the same God who hears our prayers.

In the Anglican tradition, the liturgy captures this balance beautifully, inviting us to “lift up our hearts” in worship that acknowledges both God’s nearness and His holiness. The sanctity of the Eucharist, the beauty of the Psalms, and the reverence of the prayers all point us to the reality of a God who reigns in heaven yet draws near to earth. The rhythm of our worship—both the grandeur of liturgical prayers and the quietness of personal devotion—teaches us to hold these two truths in tension: God is with us, and God is above us.

However, acknowledging God’s transcendence also challenges us to surrender control. In a world that urges us to grasp power and certainty, the phrase “in heaven” reminds us that God’s kingdom operates on a different plane—one where humility, faith, and obedience are the pathways to true strength. Trusting in God’s majesty means being willing to accept that we do not have all the answers and that our understanding is limited.

Adding some Franciscan insight…

For St. Francis of Assisi, the majesty of God was most profoundly encountered in creation—the sun, moon, stars, and all living things bearing witness to God’s glory. His Canticle of the Creatures celebrates the transcendence of God not as a distant ruler but as a loving Father whose beauty and power are reflected in the world around us. This perspective invites us to see God’s heavenly majesty revealed on earth, not in palaces of gold but in the simplicity of nature and the humility of Christ.

Francis’ life reminds us that God’s transcendence is not a call to escape the world but to see it rightly—to recognize the Creator’s fingerprints in every leaf, bird, and sunset. In this way, the phrase “in heaven” becomes a reminder that the world is full of God’s glory, if only we have eyes to see. As Franciscans often pray, “May You be praised, my Lord, for all that You have made.”

To honour God’s majesty, then, is also to live lightly on the earth, embracing simplicity, humility, and gratitude. It challenges us to care for creation as stewards of a world that speaks of God’s glory.

This Lenten season, let us seek to hold both a reverence for God’s transcendence and a love for the world He has made, following the example of Francis, who saw heaven reflected in the earth.

Reflection Questions:

  1. How does seeing God’s majesty in creation deepen your understanding of “in heaven”?
  2. In what ways can simplicity and gratitude help you live in awe of God’s transcendence this Lent?
  3. How can you reflect God’s glory through humility and care for creation?

Prayer:
Almighty and Eternal God, whose throne is in heaven yet whose love reaches down to us, open our eyes to behold Your glory. Teach us to trust in Your power and surrender our need for control. Lift our hearts to worship You in spirit and in truth, that we may walk humbly and confidently in the light of Your majesty. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

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2025 Lent Reflection

Being Part of God’s Family

Week 1, Friday: The Intimacy of “Our” – Being Part of God’s Family

Scripture: “This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven…’” (Matthew 6:9)

As we continue our Lenten journey, we pause today to reflect on a small but powerful word in the Lord’s Prayer: “Our.” This single word shifts the focus of our prayer from individual concerns to a communal faith. Jesus did not teach us to pray “My Father” but “Our Father,” drawing us into the profound truth that faith is not a solitary path but a shared pilgrimage.

The word “Our” emphasizes that we are part of a spiritual family that transcends boundaries of culture, language, and even time. In Christ, we are bound together with believers across the world and throughout history. This reality challenges the individualism that often pervades our spiritual lives. When we pray “Our Father,” we are reminded that our faith calls us to embrace others with the same love and grace that God has shown us.

This communal aspect of faith is a hallmark of the Anglican tradition, which values worship and prayer as a corporate experience. In gathering to pray and worship together, whether in a grand cathedral or a small parish church, we affirm that we are the Body of Christ—each part indispensable and beloved. Even our personal prayers, offered in solitude, connect us to the wider Church as we join our voices in the prayer that Jesus gave us.

However, this shared faith also comes with a challenge: to truly embrace others as family, even when it is uncomfortable or costly. The Church, as a community of forgiven sinners, is a place of grace but also a place that requires grace. Living out the “Our” in “Our Father” means bearing one another’s burdens, forgiving offenses, and seeking reconciliation. It means seeing the person sitting next to us—or those we struggle to love—as equally beloved by God.

During Lent, we are invited to examine our hearts for barriers that prevent us from embracing this spiritual family fully. Are there old wounds, prejudices, or fears that need healing? Are there relationships in our church or community that need mending?

The Lenten disciplines of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving are not just personal exercises but also acts that unite us with others—especially those in need. As we fast, we remember those who hunger; as we give, we share in God’s generosity; as we pray, we join a chorus of voices seeking God’s kingdom.

Reflection Questions:

  1. How does the word “Our” in the Lord’s Prayer challenge your understanding of faith as a personal journey?
  2. Are there relationships within the church or your community that God is calling you to mend this Lent?
  3. In what ways can you live out the communal nature of faith more intentionally during this season?

Prayer:
Gracious Father, thank You for the gift of Your family, the Church. Help us to embrace one another with the same love that You have shown us. Heal our divisions, deepen our unity, and teach us to pray with hearts open to all Your children. As we journey through Lent, may we grow in love for You and for each other. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

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2025 Lent News Reflection

Who is God as Father?

Week 1, Thursday: “Our Father in heaven” – Who is God as Father?

Scripture: “This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven…’” (Matthew 6:9)

In the opening words of the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus invites us to address God as “Our Father in heaven.” This address is both profound and revolutionary, reshaping our understanding of who God is. Today, we are invited to contemplate what it truly means to call God “Father” and to reflect on the nature of this relationship.

To call God “Father” is to recognize His active, caring involvement in our lives. Unlike earthly fathers, who may fail or fall short, God’s fatherhood is marked by perfect love, wisdom, and faithfulness. In the parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32), Jesus paints a vivid picture of God as a Father who runs to meet His wayward child with open arms—without hesitation or condemnation. This image challenges us to reconsider any feelings of unworthiness or fear that might hinder our approach to God.

Moreover, when Jesus teaches us to pray “Our Father,” He is not only inviting us into an individual relationship but also into a shared family of faith. This communal aspect reminds us that our faith journey is not solitary. We are part of a larger body—the Church—called to support, forgive, and pray for one another. Recognizing God as “Our Father” compels us to see each other as brothers and sisters, breaking down barriers of division and isolation.

The phrase “in heaven” balances this intimacy with a sense of awe and reverence. God’s fatherly love does not diminish His majesty and sovereignty. Rather, it reassures us that the One who holds the universe also holds us. His perspective is eternal, His wisdom unsearchable. This heavenly nature of God’s fatherhood encourages us to trust Him fully, even when we cannot see the way forward.

As we journey through Lent, let us reflect on how we relate to God as Father. Are there areas where we struggle to trust His love and wisdom? Are there places where we resist His guidance or fail to embrace the fullness of being His children?

Reflection Questions:

  1. In what ways do you struggle to trust God as a loving Father?
  2. How can embracing the communal aspect of “Our Father” transform your relationships within the Church?
  3. What would it look like to live more confidently in the assurance of God’s fatherly care this Lent?

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of being called Your children. Help us to trust Your love more fully and to live as part of Your family, extending grace and kindness to one another. As we continue this Lenten journey, deepen our understanding of Your fatherly care and teach us to rest in Your wisdom. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.