Homily 54 #

On Wednesday of the Sixth Week of Lent — the verse “Our Father,” interpreted by St. John Chrysostom.

Our Father, which art in heaven.

Interpretation.
You call God your Father—this is right to say, for He is indeed the Father and Creator of us all. But be careful, O man—do works that are pleasing to God your Father, the things that are commanded in the Holy Gospel. If you ignore these commandments and occupy yourself with impure deeds, then it is clear that you are not calling upon God, but upon your true father—the devil—whose will you are doing.

Therefore strive to flee from such things and to please your true Father and Creator. And again, if you call God your Father, O child, then live well and you will be pleasing to your Father who is in heaven.

Hallowed be Thy name.

Interpretation.
What does this mean? Is not God already holy? Yes, He is holy and most holy—“for there is none holy as the Lord our God.” But this prayer means: let Thy name be hallowed in me. For Christ, and we because of Him, are called Christians, and by His name we are made holy.

So if you praise His most holy name, then keep your soul pure from sin and walk uprightly in good and faithful deeds. Then His name shall be glorified in your purity. For the Lord said: “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

Thy kingdom come.

Interpretation.
God is King. As the prophet said: “God is King over the nations: God sitteth upon the throne of His holiness.” He reigns over all creation, visible and invisible. Just as a city besieged by enemies asks a temporal king for help, so also we, surrounded by the powers of sin and wicked thoughts, pray that the grace of God may come upon us, deliver us from evil, reign within us, and judge all things. For if we do good deeds, we shall enter into His Kingdom.

Thy will be done, as it is in heaven.

Interpretation.
For in heaven, the angels fulfill His will without envy, in deep humility and peace, glorifying God.

-So also on earth.

Interpretation.
So also on earth, let men, doing good deeds as taught by the Gospel, glorify God.

Our daily bread.

Interpretation.
This refers to both heavenly and earthly bread, for man is composed of both soul and body. Bodily bread is food for eating; but the bread of the soul is the Word of God. As the prophet said: “Man did eat angels’ food”—that is, the unceasing praise of God.

Give us this day.

Interpretation.
If you ask for bread, pray not for wealth, nor for a luxurious morning meal and drink. Rather, ask for what is sufficient for today, and give the rest to the poor. For by that, you will find the Judge merciful at the Last Judgment.

And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

Interpretation.
This prayer is joined with an oath. For the Lord said: “If thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee, leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.”
No sin, He says, will be remembered at that hour except wrath and resentment. If truly in your heart you bear no hostility toward anyone, and you have forgiven those who wronged you, and if you are compassionate toward others—those who ask for forgiveness, being weak men like yourself—and if you have fed the hungry and done all that the Lord commanded in the Gospel, or have delivered someone from distress, or done any other good deed, then your prayer is good, and you rightly ask for forgiveness.

But if you harbor bitterness in your mind, then you have brought judgment upon yourself. Woe to you—you have begun your prayer with a lie, and a lie is from the devil, for he is the father of lies. And the Lord will destroy all who speak lies, as the prophet says.

If you do not forsake anger, envy, and every remembrance of wrong; if you do not forgive your debtors their debts; if you withhold the wages of the hired laborer, or cling to shameful profit from bribes or taverns, or take money through unjust judgment or theft—then your sins will not be forgiven. For your own mouth speaks against you.

And lead us not into temptation.

Interpretation.
The Lord says: “Whosoever shall do My will and stretch forth his hand to others even in trials, the same is My son, and the trial shall not come near him, nor the torment of the age to come.”
“It is not I,” He says, “who bring you into temptation, but your father the devil, whose works ye do.” And these are his works: blasphemy, slander, judgment, quarreling, fighting, and all such things.

But if you begin to suffer for righteousness’ sake, pray to God, and both visible and invisible temptations will flee from you, and you shall be as a beloved son to Him and an heir of His heavenly kingdom.

But deliver us from the evil one.

Interpretation.
If Satan seeks to sift us, as he did long ago with Thy holy disciples, or as he did with righteous Job, do not permit him to have power over us. And if a wicked man seeks to test or harm us, do not hand us over into his hands. Rather, cover us with Thy usual love for mankind.