What Does It Mean to Hallow God’s Name?

[Jesus taught them, saying:] “Pray then in this way:
Our Father in heaven,
    hallowed be your name.

Matthew 6:9

This is the second part of a series I am writing on the Lord’s Prayer. The first part was shared last week, on “Why We Pray Our Father.” This week I am looking at what it means to hallow God’s name.

Names are important, aren’t they? Every person has a story behind their name. I am named for my father and for my father’s father. My name connects me to them, and to those who have gone before me. I still remember learning the name of my maternal grandfather not that many years ago, a name that I had not heard growing up (he died before I was born). Learning his name connected me to him and to my mother’s family in ways that surprised me and moved me…