Lord's Prayer
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THE LORD’S PRAYER : M. M. NINAN<br />
Seldom is the quality of holiness ascribed to the deity. In biblical religion, on the contrary, holiness expresses<br />
the very nature of God and it is He who is its ultimate source and is denominated the Holy One. Objects,<br />
persons, sites, and activities that are employed in the service of God derive their sacred character from that<br />
relationship. The extrinsic character of the holy is reflected in the fact that by consecrating objects, sites, and<br />
persons to God, man renders them holy..<br />
Holiness is considered God's very essence and the "Holy One, Blessed be He" (Heb. Ha-Kadosh Barukh Hu) is<br />
the most frequent name of God found in rabbinic literature. God's holiness is incommensurate with that of man<br />
and is permanently beyond human attainment (Gen. R. 90:2). "For God is holy in all manner of holiness" (Tan・.<br />
B. Kedoshim 3).<br />
Even though the divine holiness is absolute, Israel sanctifies God (Ex. R. 15:24) just as God sanctifies Israel<br />
(ibid.),<br />
"As much as to say, if you make yourselves holy, I impute it to you as though you hallowed Me; and if you do not<br />
make yourselves holy, I impute it to you as though you did not hallow Me.<br />
Can the meaning be, if you make Me holy, I am holy, and if not, I am not made holy?<br />
Scripture, however, teaches: 'For I am holy.' I abide in My holiness whether you hallow Me or not." (Sifra<br />
Kedoshim Parashah 1:1.)<br />
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