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Luke 11:2
He said to them, “When you pray, say:” ‘Father, hallowed be your name,…’”

Jesus teaches us to approach God as our Father. He even told his disciples to use the term “Abba” which in the Aramaic means something as familiar as “Daddy” or “Papa.” However, he is like no other father.

God is our Father who is all present. He is different. That is the meaning of “hallowed.” Hallowed is holiness. Holiness means something is special, set aside, different from all else and posses a purity and brightness to which nothing created can compare. Holiness represents the nature of God. His name is of such excellence and brightness that there is nothing else he has created that is like it. Anything that is made can only reflect his holiness.

If we speak to God, therefore, we should never presume to call him father and be overly familiar. We call him Father because we know he listens and loves us. But He is holy. Because of this we approach him with reverential deference. Love calls out to love and we can bring this father nothing but love and devotion.

Sir Isaac Newton was an incurable scientist. He was a man full of questions. He is credited with expounding on the “laws of motion” and “universal gravitation.” He also built the first practical reflecting telescope. One day he stared at the image of the son reflected in a mirror thinking he was “diluting” the brightness of the sun. However the brightness seared his retina. He suffered from a temporary blindness and had to sit in a darkened room for days before the bright spot recorded on his retina would fade from his vision which he saw even when he closed his eyes. This is analogous to the glory of God.

We may approach God as Jesus said but we must never forget the brightness and searing light of his presence to those of us who only see dimly in a world of shadows compared to the heaven of his presence.