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Explanation for:
Matthew
6
:
10
Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
14
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{"arr":[{"author-name":"Cyprian of Carthage","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88a7d3432c6dd4136a433_Cyprian%20of%20Carthage.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":3,"exegesis-text":"We seek the coming of God's kingdom in the same way that we implore Him for His name to be revered within us. For when is God ever absent from His reign, or when do we establish the inception of His kingdom, which has eternally existed with Him and will never end? We petition for the kingdom that has been promised to us by God, secured through the blood and suffering of Christ. We request to share in eternal reign with the Sovereign Christ, who assures us, “Come, ye blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Matt. 25:34). The kingdom of God, dear brothers and sisters, may very well be represented by Christ Himself—our heartfelt desire is for His continual presence, and we ask that He soon reveals His coming to us. Since He is our Resurrection, and we are raised in Him, so too can He be understood as the Kingdom of God, for we shall reign in Him. Our longing for the Kingdom of God, or the Kingdom of Heaven, is justified; while there exists an earthly kingdom, those who have already renounced worldly ambitions rise above them. Therefore, anyone devoted to God and Christ seeks not an earthly kingdom but a heavenly one. This pursuit necessitates ongoing prayer and supplication, so we do not fall away from the heavenly kingdom as the Jews did who had received the promise beforehand. The Lord distinctly states, “Many from east and west shall come and lie down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven: but the sons of the kingdom shall be cast out into the outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 8:11-12). This emphasizes that the Jews were once considered sons of the kingdom until they ceased to be sons of God; ultimately, their connection with the kingdom was severed when they abandoned their Father's name. Thus, we Christians, who have begun to call God 'Father' in our prayers, fervently ask for the Kingdom of God to come to us. \\n\\nWe further express our desire with the following petition: “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” This is not to suggest that God requires our prayers to fulfill His will, but rather that we attempt to align our lives with what pleases Him. Who can prevent God from achieving what delights Him? However, since the adversary obstructs our ability to yield total obedience to God in both spirit and body, we plead for His will to be accomplished within us. For this to happen, God’s will is essential, which encompasses His help and protection; no one relies on their own strength, and all find safety only through God’s grace and mercy. Our Lord, demonstrating the human fragility He bore, prayed: “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me,” and as a model for His disciples that they should seek to do God’s will rather than their own, He continued, “But not as I will, but as You will” (Matthew 26:39). He also declares: “I came down from heaven, not to do My will, but the will of the Father who sent Me” (John 6:38). If the Son submitted in such a way to fulfill the will of the Father, it is even more necessary that the servant obey and follow the will of his Master. John, in his letter, encourages us to fulfill God's will in this manner: “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world: if any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him: for all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passes away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever” (1 John 2:15-17). Since God's essence is eternal, to endure forever, we must pursue His will, which is revealed through the teachings and deeds of Christ. This includes humility in conversion, steadfast faith, restraint in speech, truthful actions, love in deeds, compassion in behavior, and moral integrity; being non-offensive and bearing offenses graciously; fostering peace with our brethren; loving God wholeheartedly, honoring Him as Father, and revering Him as God; valuing nothing more than Christ as He valued us above all; standing firm and loyal by His cross amidst the controversy over His name and honor; articulating unwavering faith in our confessions, demonstrating courage amidst trials, and exhibiting patience throughout death as we receive our victory—these embody the desire to be co-heirs with Christ. This constitutes the obedience of God’s commandments and fulfilling the will of the Father, and we beseech that God’s will be accomplished in heaven and on earth, for both are intrinsically linked to our security and salvation.\\n\\nHaving a mortal body and a heavenly spirit, we pray for God’s will to be enacted in both realms, that is, in our bodily and spiritual existence. The body and spirit are often at odds with one another, engaging in a daily conflict that leads us away from our intended desires: while the spirit yearns for divine and celestial matters, the body is inclined towards earthly and material appetites. Hence, we earnestly request, through God’s assistance, that concord may be established between the two, such that when God's will is fulfilled in both spirit and body, our souls, rejuvenated by God, may achieve salvation. The Apostle Paul openly articulates this struggle: “The flesh... lusteth against the spirit, and the spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would” (Galatians 5:17). He elucidates the deeds of the flesh: immorality, sensuality, impurity, idolatry, witchcraft, hostility, strife, jealousy, anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, murders, drunkenness, and similar actions, warning that those who engage in such behaviors “shall not inherit the kingdom of God” (Galatians 5:19-21). In contrast, the fruit of the Spirit encompasses love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). For this reason, we daily and persistently seek in prayer that God’s will be accomplished within us, both in heaven and on earth; and God's will is for the earthly to submit to the heavenly and for the spiritual and divine to prevail.\\n\\nMoreover, dear brethren, this can also be framed in another light. Since the Lord commands us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us (Matthew 5:44), we petition for those still engaged in earthly affairs who have yet to embrace the heavenly, that God's will may be realized in their lives—this is what Christ achieved by saving and redeeming humanity. He refers to His followers no longer merely as earth, but as the salt of the earth (Matt. 5:13). The Apostle contrasts the first man, who is earthly, with the second man, who is from heaven (1 Cor. 15:47). Following the example of our Father God, who shines His sun upon both the righteous and the unrighteous, and sends rain on the just and the unjust (Matt. 5:45), we are instructed to pray for the salvation of all. Thus, we rightfully petition that as God's will is fulfilled in heaven, through our faith and transformation into celestial beings, so may it also be manifested on earth, in those who are still earthly by their first birth, that they may be reborn through water and Spirit and begin their journey towards becoming heavenly."},{"author-name":"Jerome of Stridon","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88dcd3432c6dd41375498_Jerome%20of%20Stridon.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"Your kingdom come. - This petition expresses a longing for God's sovereign reign, either desiring that the devil’s dominion be abolished in the world or that God’s authority may be established within each individual, preventing sin from ruling in human lives. Furthermore, it encourages believers to seek the everlasting kingdom of God without trepidation regarding judgment, which signifies great courage in God's presence and a pure heart. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. - Just as the angels faithfully serve You in heaven, may humanity offer their service to You on earth with the same sincerity. Those who claim that there is turmoil in heaven should reconsider such notions. After all, what good is the promise of heaven if sin finds a place there?"},{"author-name":"Cyrill of Jerusalem","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88a9af397fcf9d613728f_Cyrill%20of%20Jerusalem.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"Your kingdom come. A righteous spirit can confidently declare, ‘Your kingdom come.’ For anyone who has listened to Paul’s words, ‘Let not sin reign in your mortal body’ (Romans 6:12), and anyone who cleanses themselves through actions, thoughts, and speech, can address God with, ‘Your kingdom come. Your will be done, as it is in heaven and on earth. Blessed and divine angels of God, fulfill the will of the Lord, as David proclaimed: Bless the Lord, all His angels, mighty in power, who carry out His word (Psalm 102:20). Thus, when you pray, you express this understanding: ‘As your will is fulfilled among the angels, so may it be realized in me on earth, O Lord!’"},{"author-name":"Anonymous Commentary (Opus Imperfectum)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":4,"exegesis-text":"The kingdom of God encompasses both justification and condemnation; the righteous shall experience the former due to their righteousness, while sinners face the latter because of their transgressions. This kingdom is also referred to as the kingdom of the saints, as articulated in the scripture: \\"And the tares shall be gathered out of His kingdom\\" (Matthew 13:41), signifying the removal of the unrighteous from among the Christian community. Furthermore, righteousness itself is identified as the kingdom of God, as noted in this passage: \\"The kingdom of God shall be taken away from you, and given to a nation that bringeth forth the fruits thereof\\" (Matt. 21:43). However, all these statements convey a single truth. There is a distinction between being a king and exercising rule. While God is inherently King, He does not reign over everyone, as not all belong to His kingdom due to their refusal to follow His will. It is not God who governs the wicked; rather, it is the devil whose desires they fulfill.\\n\\nConsider how carefully He expressed Himself. He avoided saying: \\"Father, sanctify Thy name in us, grant us Thy kingdom, let us fulfill Thy will,\\" to prevent the implication that God sanctifies Himself through individuals, bestows His kingdom arbitrarily, or performs His will in anyone He chooses, which would suggest a lack of seriousness in God's nature (cf. Acts 10:34). He also refrained from stating: \\"That we may sanctify Thy name, that we may gain Thy kingdom, that we may accomplish Thy will on earth as it is in heaven,\\" to avoid implying that the actions of sanctifying God, receiving His kingdom, or doing His will are solely human endeavors. Instead, in the middle of His declaration, He used an impersonal approach: let Him be holy, let Him come, let Him be, highlighting the necessity of a collaborative effort. Humanity relies on God, while God requires humanity's willingness for righteousness to be accomplished. Just as a person cannot perform good deeds without divine assistance, likewise, God cannot perform good through an individual who does not seek it."},{"author-name":"John Chrysostom","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88ea76859f9f8e2ffd3ee_John%20Chrysostom.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"Your kingdom come. These words are fitting for a faithful child who does not cling to material possessions or regard worldly riches as of great significance, but instead seeks the Father and longs for future blessings. Such a prayer arises from a pure conscience and a spirit unencumbered by worldly attachments. This was Paul’s desire as well, which is why he expressed, “We ourselves also have the firstfruits of the Spirit, and we groan inwardly as we eagerly await our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies” (Romans 8:23). A person who possesses such love cannot be proud when surrounded by life's blessings, nor can they despair in times of hardship; rather, like someone whose home is in heaven, they are liberated from both ends of the spectrum. Thy will be done, as it is in heaven, so on earth. Do you perceive the beautiful interconnection? He first instructed us to seek the future and to yearn for our heavenly homeland. However, until we arrive there, those who inhabit this earth must strive to live lives befitting those who reside in heaven. They should aspire, He indicates, toward heavenly realities. Yet, even before reaching heaven, He calls upon us to make the earth a reflection of heaven, encouraging us to conduct ourselves as if we were in the celestial realms, and to petition the Lord for this transformation. Indeed, our earthly existence does not prevent us from moving towards the perfection of the divine order. It is entirely feasible, even from our earthly position, to act as we would in heaven. Thus, the essence of the Savior’s teaching is this: just as everything in heaven is accomplished seamlessly, where the angels do not pick and choose which commands to follow, but obediently conform to all divine will (as it is written: “Bless the Lord, you His angels, you mighty ones who do His bidding” Psalm 102:20), so too should we, as human beings, wholly fulfill Your will. Can you see this? Christ also demonstrated humility by indicating that virtue relies not solely on our own efforts but also on heavenly grace, simultaneously urging each of us to care for the world as we pray. He did not merely say, “Thy will be done in me or in us,” but rather “on all the earth,” meaning that every falsehood should be erased and truth established, that all evil should be eradicated and goodness restored, resulting in no distinction between heaven and earth. If this is the case, He states, the lower realm will share in the attributes of the higher, despite their qualitative differences; thus, the earth will reveal to us different angels. Having ignited in us a desire for the future and a yearning for the kingdom, and having instilled this passion within us, He instructs us to proclaim: “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Grant us, O Lord, the ability to emulate the heavenly way of life, that we may desire the same things that You desire; strengthen our frail will, which, despite the intention to perform Your works, is often hindered by our human limitations; assist those who strive to move forward yet feel they are faltering; the spirit is willing and alert, yet the flesh is weak; one longs for heavenly treasures while the other is drawn toward earthly matters; yet with Your assistance, even what seems impossible becomes attainable; “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”"},{"author-name":"Isidore of Pelusium","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88d94130e668938c9ae9d_Isidore%20of%20Pelusium.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":5,"exegesis-text":"I believe that someone who acts as one of the initial attendants of the oppressor goes beyond all bounds of audacity when they declare: Thy kingdom come. This plea is a request for the arrival of the victorious King for those subjected to the tyrant's power, who brings unfailing aid in the battle against sin. Despite failing to embody any actions that are pleasing to God, such an individual still pretends to possess virtue and proclaims: Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Thus, it is those who abstain from everything that grants enjoyment to the oppressor who rightfully express the desire for His kingdom to manifest. The phrase Thy will be done reflects the true intentions of those who demonstrate their commitment through their deeds. The teachings of the Lord, alongside all other divine revelations, instruct us in prayer to request: Thy will be done, as it is in heaven, so let it be carried out on earth. This implies that we, here on earth, may partake in the serene realm of the divine, where all Your will is fulfilled, so that what pleases You may also be accomplished within us. Therefore, being aware of these truths and having learned them from me, do not neglect them but instead hold tightly to what is celestial and draws us nearer to God."},{"author-name":"Maximus the Confessor","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8951a1dea23713695271e_Maximus%20the%20Confessor.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":7,"exegesis-text":"Through the renunciation of desire and anger, we naturally embrace the authority of the Kingdom of God the Father, as articulated in the Lord's Prayer. After casting aside our passions, we are privileged to proclaim: Thy kingdom come, which signifies the presence of the Holy Spirit, transforming us into temples of God through this Spirit and the path of humility. The Lord instructs us: \\"On whom will I look, but on him that is meek and silent, and who trembles at My words\\" (Is. 66:2). It is evident, therefore, that the Kingdom of God belongs to the humble and the meek, as it is written: \\"Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth\\" (Matt. 5:5). God has promised an inheritance not of this transient world, which occupies a mere middle place in the cosmos. Instead, He unveils the truth: \\"For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but abide as the angels of God in heaven\\" (Matt. 22:30). Furthermore, He states: \\"Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world\\" (Matt. 25:34). Additionally, He joyfully proclaims to the diligent: \\"Enter into the joy of thy master\\" (Matt. 25:21). The divine Apostle asserts: \\"For he shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible\\" (1 Cor. 15:52). He continues: \\"Afterwards we who are left alive will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord\\" (1 Thess. 4:17). If all these promises are made to those who love the Lord, who among us would speak solely of the earthly existence we currently inhabit, without acknowledging the heaven and the kingdom that has been prepared since the world’s creation, as well as the hidden joy of the Lord, and the eternal dwelling of those deemed worthy to be with Him? Who would dare make such a comparison if guided by the Word of God and desiring to serve Him?\\n\\nHence, it is my belief that ‘the earth’ here signifies the unwavering strength, inner fortitude, and steadfast goodness of the meek, for they dwell perpetually with the Lord, possessing boundless joy, and are aligned with the kingdom established from the very beginning, thereby receiving honor and rank in heaven. Such virtuous qualities resemble a type of earth, existing in a balanced position within the universe. As a result, the meek, who experience neither praise nor disdain, remain unaffected by honor or shame. The mind, having renounced passion, is no longer disturbed by external pressures that it is naturally free from, for it has calmed the inner turmoil caused by these emotions and redirected the soul’s strength towards divine freedom. To impart this freedom to His disciples, the Lord encourages: \\"Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls\\" (Matt. 11:29). The ‘rest’ referred to here embodies the power of the divine kingdom, which cultivates a sovereign dominion in the souls of the worthy, free from all forms of bondage.\\n\\nThus, if the indestructible power of the Sacred Kingdom is bestowed upon the humble and meek, who among us would remain apathetic to the Divine gifts and refrain from ardently pursuing humility and meekness to embody the imprint of the Divine Kingdom, truly holding within themselves the majestic King Christ, becoming, by grace, His unalterable image in the Spirit? According to the Apostle, in this image, \\"there is neither male nor female\\" (Galatians 3:28), which means that there exists neither anger nor desire. The former tyrannically steals the intellect and leads thoughts beyond the limits of natural law, while the latter elevates that which is lower than the One True Cause of all things above the Divine itself, thus the flesh prefers the material over the glory of spiritual goods, derailing the mind from divine perception towards mere visible pleasures.\\n\\nIn this Divine likeness, there is but one intellect, guided by the fullness of virtue, overcoming even the deepest impressed inclinations towards the body, for the Spirit triumphs over nature, compelling the mind to engage in simple, undivided contemplation united with the transcendent essence of the Word. However, it is also inherent for the mind to navigate through the temporal experiences of existence, and having done so, it ought not to be weighed down by moral dilemmas, for it has risen beyond the constraints of the senses. This is illustrated in the act of the great Elijah, who, upon his ascension to heaven, entrusted Elisha with the mantle, symbolizing the mortification of flesh and embodying the dignity of moral integrity to aid the Spirit in vanquishing all opposing forces, thus avoiding the trap of material entanglement depicted by the River Jordan. Elijah himself, advancing towards God in complete freedom, unmoored by worldly attachments and with a straightforward desire and will, ascended to God, whose nature is simplicity, through interlinked virtues that unite through knowledge, as he rode on fiery chariots.\\n\\nHe understood that a disciple of Christ must not exhibit conflicting dispositions, for such disparities signal separation from Christ. If the agitation of desire disrupts the spirit, then anger boils the blood. Therefore, Elijah, living preeminently in Christ, eliminated from within himself the unnatural roots of passions, refraining from embodying conflicting natures, like male and female. This was so the mind, inherently endowed with dignity from the divine image, would not be enslaved by them, nor swayed by their turbulent shifts, persuading the soul to recreate itself freely in the image of God, thereby becoming a radiant abode of the great kingdom, that is, the Holy Spirit—the kingdom that exists eternally with God, the Father of all creation.\\n\\nSuch a person attains, if I may express it thus, the capacity to understand the Divine nature to the fullest extent possible. Through this divine comprehension, the soul instinctively renounces what is base and strives for what is better, provided it preserves within itself the unblemished essence of the bestowed goods by the grace of calling. Within such a soul, it is continually favorable for Christ incarnate to be mysteriously reborn, rendering the soul that conceives Him a virgin mother. Consequently, it does not possess the attributes of nature subject to corruption and birth, including the distinctions of male and female. One ought not to be astonished to acknowledge that corruption precedes birth; upon reasonable examination of the nature of that which is born and that which perishes, one can clearly observe that birth initiates with corruption and concludes in it. \\n\\nThe passionate attributes of this birth, as noted, lack Christ’s essence and life. The Apostle correctly emphasizes the nature that is governed by decay and birth: \\"In Christ Jesus there is neither male nor female\\" (Galatians 3:28), but only a divine intellect, formed by holy wisdom, and a singular manifestation of will that chooses virtue alone. In Christ Jesus, there is \\"neither Jew nor Gentile\\"—indicating differing, indeed opposing, perspectives concerning God. The Hellenistic mindset introduces irrational polytheism that fractiously divides the One Source into contrary actions and energies, leading to a polytheistic worship that, through its multiplicity, invokes discord and earns disgrace through its various forms of devotion. Conversely, the Jewish perspective, albeit professing a singular Beginning, portrays a narrow, imperfect, almost non-existent God, devoid of Word and Life—falling into a grave error tantamount to the previous one, leading to godlessness by confining the true essence of God to mere personhood, either devoid of Word and Spirit or attributing Word and Spirit as mere characteristics. This view neglects the reality that God, absent the Word and Spirit, ceases to be God. \\n\\nBoth conceptualizations of God are absent in Christ, for in Him, there resides the singular doctrine of true divinity and the unchanged law of sacramental theology, which refutes the notion of divisiveness found in the first view and does not accept the constriction evident in the second. Thus, the Holy doctrine protects us from perceiving God's essence as being in internal strife, which is a Hellenic fault, or from presenting Him as suffering and lacking the Word and Spirit, or giving Him the Word and Spirit as mere accidental properties, which is a Jewish error. Therefore, the law of sacramental theology instructs us, through the grace of those adopted through faith to the understanding of truth, to embrace the unified nature and power of the Godhead—one God manifest in the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit—acknowledging the singular and uncaused Intellect, who is the Parent of the eternal Word, existing eternally as essence, and to recognize the Source of eternal Life, who exists essentially as the Holy Spirit.\\n\\nWe must comprehend the Trinity within the Unity and the Unity within the Trinity—not as one manifesting in the other, for the Trinity is not an accidental property of the essence, and the Unit cannot exist within the Trinity, lacking quality; nor as one and the other, given that the Unit does not differ in nature from the Trinity, as both are fundamentally simple and unified; nor can they be understood as concurrent but distinctly separate entities, for it is not by the diminishment of power that the Trinity differs from the Unit, or vice versa; not as a common or generic concept, merely thought; for the Divine essence stands truly self-existent, and Divine power exists as truly capable. Neither can they be thought of in terms of an external relation, as what is absolutely equal and devoid of relation cannot be mediated like effect to cause; nor can one be derived from the other, for the Trinity, being uncreated and self-existent, is not brought into being by the Unit.\\n\\nWe speak and think of God as truly both One and Trinity; He is One in the logos of His essence and Trinity in the mode of His existence. We profess the same Unity, undivided amongst Hypostases; and the same Trinity, undivided in Unity, preventing the introduction of polytheism through fragmentation or heresy by amalgamation, thus clarifying the doctrine of Christ. This doctrine entails the new announcement of truth, where neither male nor female exists—eliminating the mark of weakness inherent in nature under the law of decay and birth; where neither Jew nor Gentile exists, denoting the absence of opposing doctrines concerning God; and where neither circumcision nor uncircumcision prevails, representing no ministries correlating to those doctrines. The Jewish ministry criticizes visible creation through the law's symbols, condemning the Creator as evil, whereas the Gentile ministry worships creation for the sake of fulfilling base desires, opposing the Creator; both pathways lead to the same sin—blasphemy.\\n\\nThere exists neither barbarian nor Scythian, meaning that the one human nature cannot rebel against itself, leading to the malicious law of mutual destruction against the order of creation. Likewise, there is neither slave nor free, indicating no encroachment upon human nature contrary to the will, which diminishes humanity's equality and is reinforced by laws reflecting the mindset of the powerful, thus disregarding the dignity of the image of God. Instead, all things and in all things align with Christ, who transcends nature and law, building an image of the eternal kingdom—an image that is manifested in the soul through humility and meekness, which signifies the person perfected in Christ (Col. 1:28). Indeed, every humble person is undoubtedly meek, and every meek person is necessarily humble. He recognizes that his existence is borrowed and understands the rightful use of his innate capacities given by nature for the birth of virtue, entirely directing their energy away from sensual indulgences.\\n\\nConsequently, while his mind perpetually seeks God, his emotions remain unmoved, impervious to the pains that affect the body, thereby not allowing grief to mar the joy residing within. He perceives the lack of pleasure not as sorrow but knows only one true pleasure—the soul's communion with the Word; the absence of this joy becomes a torment of endless duration. Hence, he aspires toward Divine communion, and even if he possessed dominion over all living beings, he regards only one thing as true deprivation—the inability to attain divine glorification through grace. \\n\\nLet us therefore purify ourselves from all filthiness of flesh and spirit (2 Corinthians 7:1), quelling the desires that flippantly flirt with the passions, so that we may sanctify the Divine Name, binding reason to the raging anger fueled by pleasure, enabling us to become meek and worthy of receiving the forthcoming kingdom of God the Father. Let us accompany the earlier words of the Prayer with the affirmation: Thy will be done, as it is in heaven and on earth. Those who sacramentally perform their service unto God with rational power, detached from desire and anger, achieve God’s will upon the earth, akin to the ranks of angels in heaven. They have become collaborative workers alongside the angels, as the great Apostle articulates: \\"Our abode is in heaven\\" (Phil. 3:20). In such individuals, there no longer exists desire that weakens the mind nor rage that manifests as hostility towards kin. Their existence is sustained solely by the singular deep thought, guiding intelligent beings back to the First Mind. \\n\\nThis is the essence of what pleases God and is what He requires from us, His servants, as evident in His words to David: \\"What is there in heaven for me? And of thee what shall I take up on earth\\" (Psalm 72:25). The holy angels in heaven offer nothing to God but rational service. Therefore, wishing for the same from us, the Lord instructs those who pray: \\"Thy will be done, as it is in heaven and on earth.\\" Let us allow our minds to be oriented towards seeking God, our desires to gravitate towards Him, and let the intense beginning struggle to obtain Him. More precisely, let our entire intellect yearn towards God, driven by an inner voice in the heat of desire. By emulating the angels of heaven, we will continually serve God, leading lives on earth that reflect angelic virtues, thus becoming entirely undistracted by lesser things beneath God's grandeur."},{"author-name":"Theophylact of Bulgaria","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8989296bafed9104677d7_Theophylact%20of%20Bulgaria.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":11,"exegesis-text":"May Your kingdom arrive, referring to the second advent, for a person with a pure heart prays for the arrival of resurrection and judgment. May Your will be fulfilled on earth as it is in heaven. Just as the angels faithfully carry out Your will in heaven, enable us to do the same here on earth. \\"For the angels always and in everything act according to the will of God.\\""},{"author-name":"Euthymios Zigabenos","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":11,"exegesis-text":"Thy kingdom come... This phrase pertains to His glorious Second Coming. It is commanded that we pray for this, so that, being aware of our supplication, we may be fully equipped to greet Him. Naturally, one who is prepared would eagerly pray for the arrival of the Judge. It can be expressed differently: Thy kingdom come, meaning You reign over us, not the adversary; You provide us with guidance and directives, not him. Thy will be done, both in heaven and on earth. May Your will manifest among humanity on earth, just as it is fulfilled by the angels in heaven, of whom David declared, ‘His servants do His will’ (Psalm 102:21). The divine will comprises His commandments. The term hallowed is essential for us to perceive it as a desirable state; we seek it in prayer because we require God’s assistance to achieve it. Similarly, the other actions are to be understood as desired, despite their imperative form."},{"author-name":"Symeon of Thessalonica","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c897e26d8de9e2f4f210fd_Symeon%20of%20Thessalonica.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":15,"exegesis-text":"May your kingdom arrive. Let us see you as our Sovereign for the sake of our righteous deeds, rather than as an adversary because of our wrongdoings. And may your kingdom come in fullness—on that final day when you will reign over all and every foe, establishing your kingdom forever, as it already is; anticipating those who are prepared and worthy for that moment. Let your will be fulfilled both in heaven and on earth. Transform us intoYour messengers, that your will might be realized in and through us as it is among them; may our desires not be driven by our flawed humanity, but be filled with your divine and sacred passion; and just as you have united the earthly and the heavenly, may we on earth experience the divine as well."},{"author-name":"Wladimir (Bogojawlenski)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c898de9753dde91f8ba29f_Wladimir%20(Bogojawlenski).png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":19,"exegesis-text":"Dear brothers and sisters! One who genuinely harbors a spirit of sonship toward God, for whom the Almighty truly serves as a Father, whom one loves above all else and reveres beyond all things, cannot help but begin prayer with the words, \\"Our Father, who art in heaven,\\" and immediately follow with, \\"Hallowed be Thy name.\\" It is not for our sake, but for Your name alone that we seek glory, honor, and reverence befitting You. All-Powerful, Eternal, Merciful Father! We beseech You to accept what is rightfully Yours! Shield us from all that may obstruct our ability to glorify Your name. Grant that Your Word may spread among us across the earth so that all humanity may come to know Your holy name, and that we may venerate You as Your true children through our sanctified lives. Therefore, if the primary and sole aim of our desires, worries, and aspirations is to glorify the name of God, our heavenly Father, we are fully justified in adding to our first request, hallowed be Thy name, the second: Thy kingdom come.\\n\\nOur esteemed ancestors in faith describe the kingdom of God in three distinct forms: the kingdom of power, the kingdom of grace, and the kingdom of glory. God's kingdom of power has reigned from creation's dawn over all He has made. He governs everything with absolute authority, and no creature can weaken or diminish His strong hand. Even demons quake at His majesty and, against their own desire, serve as instruments of His Divine Will, underscoring the glory and steadfastness of His eternal laws. The kingdom of God permeates all; nothing exists outside His omnipotent governance. This is beyond doubt. \\n\\nIn this regard, the kingdom of God is not solely something that is only coming or will arrive in the future. It is already present, thus we need not utter, Thy kingdom come, in that sense. However, the intention behind the Creator's crafting of the world and the glory He desires from His creations is not for them to serve Him unwillingly or to honor Him as vessels of His wrath. Rather, He created us to serve Him willingly, out of free and grateful love, to honor and exalt His name, to fulfill His will, and to enjoy the good gifts bestowed upon us. This reflects why He does not eradicate sinful humanity in its fall nor abandon it to its own ruin, which arises from willfulness. \\n\\nThe eternal decree of divine love has resolved to establish the kingdom of His grace amid the sinful world. His governance is aimed at fulfilling this eternal counsel of divine love, that all things in heaven and on earth may be unified in Christ, where His will is executed and truth, peace, and joy thrive. The arrival and fulfillment of this kingdom is the ultimate goal of God's plans. Through the prophets He conveyed to the forebears the multiplicity and richness of this purpose (Hebrews 1:1). For this reason, He sent His Son, born of a woman, at the appointed time, and delivered the law. For this purpose, the only begotten Son of the Father diminished Himself, adopting the form of a servant, becoming obedient unto death, even death on a cross (Philippians 2:8). \\n\\nFor this reason, the Son of Man, having been granted all authority in heaven and on earth, now commissions His apostles, the heralds of His kingdom, to proclaim the gospel so that all God’s children, for whom He sacrificed Himself, may gather to Him from dawn till dusk, to live within His kingdom and serve eternally in righteousness, innocence, and joy. This is the kingdom of which our Savior speaks when He preaches the gospel of the kingdom and teaches us to pray, \\"Father, Thy kingdom come.\\" Indeed, He encourages us to pray for this grace-filled kingdom to manifest in us, bringing forth its truth, peace, and joy of the Holy Spirit, and that it may arrive in its glory—the day revealed when all decrees of His eternal counsel will be realized. \\n\\nThis is the kingdom we plead for when we say, \\"Father, Thy kingdom come.\\" It is certain that the kingdom of God will indeed come, even without our supplication. By His free will alone, the Almighty has chosen to redeem the world, without awaiting anyone's request; out of His boundless love, He enforces this decision, overcoming all sin and apathy inherent in the world, and despite the conspiracies and opposition of its ruler. The Lord's hand prevails, no matter how brazen human wickedness may rise against it. \\n\\nHerod and Pilate, alongside the Gentiles and Jews, conspire against God and His Christ, yet their actions are simply in accordance with God's eternal predestination. Saul breathes threats towards the disciples of the Lord and seeks to obliterate God's kingdom and His Christ, yet he could not succeed (Acts 9:5). The Strong One drew him to Himself, transforming him into His chosen vessel to glorify His name among the Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. Therefore, the kingdom of God will indeed come without our prayers. Why do you, mere mortal, presume that the Almighty requires your assistance? \\n\\nGod does not need our help; rather, we need His help for the kingdom of God to touch us. Although the kingdom of God will arrive independent of our prayer, we implore that it may personally come to us. What benefit is it to me if it arrives with its salvation and grace while I remain unconnected to it? What would gain result from the bridegroom's approach if his guests gather for the joyful feast and I am unprepared, lacking the radiant garment to enter the wedding hall, thus being cast out? \\n\\nThis is why we ask in this prayer for God’s kingdom to come unto us Christians, whom the Lord has instructed to pray in this manner, and for those who do not yet know Christ and remain enveloped in the darkness of paganism. Oh, that the heavenly Father would cleanse their hearts of everything that obstructs the arrival of His kingdom, allowing it to enter every soul, family, city, and nation—believers and non-believers alike. \\n\\nLet us not forget that the Christian mission is not an alien responsibility but rather a call to reveal God's name even to the Gentiles, that His Word may be proclaimed across the globe: The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe the gospel (Mark 1:15). It is without question that this kingdom of God will manifest even without our petition, but it must take root through us, through our prayers, and through our love. Woe to us if the arrival of this glorious kingdom coincides with the appearance of the Son of Man in glory to inherit His kingdom, only for us to be exposed as liars, lacking the congruence in our lives reflective of the words we repeatedly speak! \\n\\nIn such a case, this very prayer we often recite, along with all the souls who were denied entrance to the kingdom of God due to our failings, would stand as witnesses against us, condemning us before the Judgment Seat. Oh, protect us from such fate, merciful heavenly Father! Strip away from us all that bars us from receiving You and Your Holy Spirit into our hearts. Make us vessels of Your grace so that Your kingdom may draw near and spread across the earth through our actions and service. \\n\\nPour out Your Holy Spirit upon all creation so that Your kingdom may manifest, that the day of Your glory may be unveiled, and that we might join the celestial chorus, singing: Alleluia! For the Lord God Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be filled with joy and give Him glory: for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His bride has made herself ready (Revelation 19:7). The kingdom of this world has become the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ, and He will reign forever and ever (Rev. 11:15). Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. \\n\\nThe angels of God proclaimed on that holy night of Christ's Nativity: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men (Luke 2:14). This beautifully encapsulates the essence of the first three requests in the Lord's Prayer. For the glory due to the Most High God is rooted in the genuine reverence of His name, and peace upon the earth follows the arrival of His kingdom, which ushers men into a state of grace—there is no way to achieve this apart from what we seek in the third petition. \\n\\nWhat do we request in this prayer? Though God's merciful and good will is fulfilled without our involvement and without our supplication, in the third petition, we ask that His will may be enacted on earth just as it is in heaven. We refer to God's will here as His benevolent will, which is entirely accurate: it is His will alone that is indeed good. Furthermore, it is characterized as merciful, for it reflects the heart of a God who wishes to restore us and desires that all humankind be saved and embrace the truth. This decree of His divine love was established before the world's foundation and will be carried out following the fulfillment of time. \\n\\nThis is His desire for us, which directs His providential actions—even if we do not plead for it. Why, then, should we continuously implore Him that His good and gracious will may be accomplished in us and through us for His glory and our benefit? Is there anything that obstructs the fulfillment of His benevolent will? In heaven, nothing stands in the way. There, all is accomplished according to God's gracious and good will. The heavenly hosts rejoice eternally, triumphantly singing before His throne, \\"Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts.\\" There, no opposition to the unconditional and unfettered rule of the Divine Will exists. The joy of angels is to fulfill His commands and serve those destined to inherit blessings.\\n\\nEvery repentant soul who experiences the triumph of God's merciful will here on earth celebrates becoming transformed from a servant of sin into a servant of God, an heir of His kingdom, and a cherished one in His favor. Therefore, we pray that God’s will be accomplished among the earth’s inhabitants just as it is executed by those in heaven, with the same unwavering, trusting, tireless, and obedient hearts that fulfill God’s will without questioning its necessity. Yet, currently, God’s will isn't fully realized on earth. \\n\\nWe do not yet display the sincerely willing, unquestioning, tireless, childlike faith that would characterize perfect instruments of His Divine Will. Why is this? The wicked and ungodly will persists, continuously opposing and resisting the glorification of God’s name and the commencement of His kingdom; the malevolent, unholy will outside of us—the desires of the world and the devourer's schemes—and the evil desires within us—our fleshly inclinations. These three adversaries to our salvation have forged an alliance that forever entangles us in the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the arrogance of life, instigating agitation and escapism from our cross.\\n\\nThis resistance makes it arduous for us to submit our will to God's. Therefore, we often declare with our lips, \\"Father, Thy will be done,\\" while our hearts contradict, desiring, \\"No Father, not Thy will, but mine be done!\\" We safeguard ourselves from this evil counsel and will, both external and internal, when we pray, \\"Father, Thy will be done!\\" Under what circumstances can God's good and merciful will manifest in us, among us, and through us? \\n\\nGod pushes back against every evil intention and all wills that entice us toward the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life, and He instills us with His Word and faith until the end of our lives. Thanks be to God! His own Word and gospel assure us that His good and gracious will aims to vanquish wicked counsels and prevail over ill will, to fortify His children in righteousness, and maintain them in His teachings and faith until life's end. Thus, we have every reason to trust that He will hear us when we petition: Thy will be done! \\n\\nThose in opposition, the world and the devil, have conspired against God and His anointed. However, He reassures them, \\"Devise schemes, but they shall come to naught; speak a word, but it will not take effect\\" (Isaiah 8:10). When Herod dispatched his executioners to eliminate the infant Jesus, God countered his malicious schemes. He sent His angel to instruct Joseph in a dream, saying, \\"Take the child and His mother and flee to Egypt\\" (Matthew 2:13). The world and all hell's forces are warring against the kingdom of Christ. Their goal is to eradicate the despised Church of Nazareth, just as they did to Him on the cross. Still, the right hand of God is more formidable: He dismantles their wicked plans and fortifies His followers in Christian doctrine and faith to their life's conclusion. \\n\\nThese followers of His name regard every insult and persecution for the sake of Christ. They bear every trial with joy, not only the loss of material possessions but even the forfeiture of life itself. They rejoice amid torturers who inflict suffering and death upon them. The blood of the crucified Christ and the blood of His martyrs serve as the seed of His church. So take heart, beloved! God Himself dismantles all evil schemes, thwarting the wicked will that obstructs the glorification of His name and the onset of His kingdom. No matter how relentless the world and the devil may be in their pursuit of destruction, God's kingdom will endure forever. \\n\\nThus, it should not particularly grieve or terrify you, O Christian, to witness the extent of power the world and its prince possess on earth. Instead, it is crucial to recognize the magnitude of this opposing divine will within you and how frequently you offend God, obstructing the arrival of His kingdom. This reality should lead you to humbly and sincerely implore your heavenly Father for guidance, earnestly asking Him to preserve His honor and glory in you (in your actions) despite your obstinate, unholy will, that He might fulfill His good will and purge your heart of all that prevents you from entirely yielding to Him, seeking nothing else but to do His will and to find joy and endurance in it.\\n\\nTherefore, do not yield to the impulses of your flesh, the world, or the devil but rather direct all your thoughts, feelings, and desires toward Him who proclaimed: \\"I seek not my own will, but the will of the Father who sent Me\\" (John 5:30). To carry out His Father's benign and redemptive will, to accomplish the work appointed to Him by the Father, and to suffer in accordance with the Father's will—this was His sustenance, purpose, and life’s calling. \\"Father,\\" He prayed in the garden of Gethsemane, \\"not my will, but Yours be done; let Your will prevail!\\" \\n\\nSo, dear Lord, You fulfilled all that was required. You accomplished the work entrusted to You by the Father. You have precisely executed Your duties, ensuring that the Father's name would be honored among humanity with the gospel of the kingdom proclaimed to the ends of the earth. Thus, You embodied all truth, both in the fulfillment of His will and in the voluntary acceptance of suffering, demonstrating Your obedience even unto death on the cross. You exhibited Yourself as a beloved Son, deserving of Your Father’s grace.\\n\\nCome down to us with Your infinite mercy, O Lord, and eliminate from us all that hinders our adherence to Your example, that we may yield our will in obedience to our heavenly Father's will. Subdue our passions and purify our hearts with the fire of Your love to desire nothing more than to execute our Father’s will and to endure any suffering without complaint. Strengthen us against every force of the world, the devil, and the flesh, and maintain us steadfast in Your Word and law until our life’s end, that through You we may become true children of our heavenly Father and heirs of His favor. \\n\\nO Merciful and Omnipotent God! “Take us,\\" as a devout soul has said, \\"from ourselves and give us to You,\\" and then that day will dawn when nothing will any longer obstruct the glorification of God's name and the arrival of His kingdom. On that day, all that we once supplicated from our heavenly Father will be realized, as we proclaim: \\"Father, Your will be done, as it is in heaven and on earth.\\" Amen."},{"author-name":"Ignatij (Briantchaninow)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88ce37597540c9caa5df5_Ignatij%20(Briantchaninow).png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":19,"exegesis-text":"Your kingdom come! The kingdom of God resides within you (Luke 17:21). What a magnificent progression is found in the Lord's Prayer! This progression illustrates the orderly, gradual, and sacred system of spiritual development. After requesting a complete understanding of God, the Lord instructs the believer adopted by Him to earnestly seek the Kingdom of God to enter his heart. He urges him to approach this request through humble yet powerful prayers of faith. For the believer, receiving this kingdom is a certainty, as assured by the Word of God: He who has My commandments and obeys them, he who loves Me is the one loved by My Father. Whoever loves Me will keep My word, and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him (John 14:21, 23). Thy kingdom come! Such a beautiful request! A deep longing is awakened by this plea! A bold supplication is inspired by a divine desire! And this prayer is fulfilled. This fulfillment is confirmed by the remarkable acts displayed through God's saints. What can we attribute the miraculous signs performed by them to, if not to the truth that God was present within them and acted through them? What else can explain the gift of prophecy or the unveiling of the mysteries hidden within hearts and minds, revealed through God’s saints, but the presence of God—the one who perceives the distant future as the present, who knows all secrets? This was affirmed by the saints themselves. The Apostle Paul wrote of his experience to the Galatians: ‘I live, yet not I, but Christ lives in me’ (Galatians 2:20); he wrote to the Corinthians: ‘You seek proof of Christ speaking in me’ (2 Corinthians 13:3). When Apostles Peter and John healed the man lame from birth at the Beautiful Gate of the temple in Jerusalem, and the amazed crowd gathered around them, they addressed the crowd: ‘Fellow Israelites, why are you amazed at this? Why do you stare at us as if we had made him walk by our own power or godliness? The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our ancestors, has glorified His servant Jesus’ (Acts 3:12-13). The Acts of the Apostles recount a profound episode: the Christians in Jerusalem, in obedience to the Lord's command, sold their possessions and shared the proceeds for the common good of the church, ensuring there was no one in need. Ananias and his wife Sapphira followed suit. They sold a property but conspired to keep part of the proceeds secret. Ananias presented the sum as complete at the apostles' feet, intending to deceive the Spirit-bearers. Saint Peter asked him: ‘Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back some of the purchase price? Wasn’t it yours to keep? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings, but to God’ (Acts 5:3-4). Upon hearing these words, Ananias fell down dead. Sapphira, who supported her husband’s actions and shared in his sin before the Holy Spirit present in the apostles, met the same fate (Acts 5:1-10). Throughout the history of Christianity, the annals of the Church record the experiences derived from the sanctified acts of God that transcend human nature, belonging instead to God, who dwells and reigns within holy people. Monk Macarius of Egypt remarked: ‘In those whom the grace of the Divine Spirit has illuminated and settled in their hearts, the Lord becomes like a soul within them.’ Again, he stated: ‘The action and power of the Holy Spirit resides in the renewed human being.’ He who experiences the Kingdom of God within themselves becomes a stranger to a world that opposes God. Those who feel this divine kingdom may genuinely desire that it be manifested in everyone around them. They can rightly yearn for the visible Kingdom of God to envelop the earth, eradicate sin from its surface, and establish the reign of Truth. From this place of longing, St. John the Theologian prayerfully responded to the Lord during a moment of spiritual delight, who promised His imminent return to address the final destinies of the world: ‘Come, Lord Jesus’ (Rev. 22:20). The earth is filled with wickedness, in need of purification and renewal. Unprepared and recognizing his own mental temple as empty—a dwelling lacking God—he seeks another opportunity to perform his duties. He pleads for time, like the gardener imploring the Lord who ordered the unfruitful, mysterious fig tree to be cut down: ‘Lord, leave it for this year until I dig around it,’ separating it from the habits that sap its strength, ‘and I will fertilize it’—using humility and repentance (Luke 13:8). Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; heaven consists of the heavenly beings: through them, God's will is executed in purity and without corruption. They do not impose their own will alongside that of God! Their will has merged with divine will. What the Savior of the World desired from God the Father for His disciples and all who follow Him has been granted: ‘I do not pray for these only, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word: that they all may be one, just as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You, that they may also be one in Us.... that they may be one, even as We are one: I in them, and You in Me: that they may be made perfect in one’ (John 17:20-23). ‘Thy will be done, both in heaven and on earth.’ The earth represents Christians. It would be fitting for each of us, when uttering this request, to understand the term ‘earth’ as referring to our hearts, intimately linking the heart and body. The direction of the heart's forces influences how the body responds, with the body's inclinations transforming from the carnal and beastly to the spiritual, holy, and angelic. The complete unity of the human will with God’s will represents a state of perfection achievable only by a rational being. Angels possess this perfection. It is the good pleasure of our Savior that we—fragile and imperfect humans, derived from the earth, roaming it briefly, and ultimately returning to dust—should receive what the most sacred heavenly spirits have. He commands us to pursue the perfection that remains beyond our full understanding. Those who have experienced the Kingdom of God within themselves learn not to be content with this; they learn to reject carelessness and inactivity; they strive for the fullest manifestation of the Divine Kingdom within themselves. Let the will of God operate thoroughly within each individual, in every aspect: spirit, soul, and body, harmonizing the desires that were divided by the fall! Only through the will of God can the will of man, tainted by sin, find healing; only in and through the will of God can the conflicting desires of the different parts of man be reconciled into a single yearning; only the will of man, enlivened by God’s will, can ascend from the earth to heaven. ‘Brethren,’ says the holy apostle Paul, ‘I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things’ (Phil. 3:13-15)."},{"author-name":"Michail (Lusin)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c89550c567e172d15b3055_Michail%20(Lusin).png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"Your kingdom come. The kingdom—the reign of the Messiah—Jesus Christ. This prayer was deeply cherished by the Jews, particularly since the time of their exile in Babylon, fervently longing for the Messiah's arrival: \\"Let Your kingdom reign; let redemption come quickly.\\" The Christian, as a participant in this kingdom, expresses a heartfelt petition: 1) for the kingdom of Christ to endure and flourish across the cosmos, that the Lord may draw the faithless from the shadows of disbelief and lead the unrighteous towards holiness, thereby expanding His dominion on earth and diminishing the realm of evil and sin; 2) for Him to govern the hearts of believers, igniting in them faith, hope, and love; 3) that upon the conclusion of this earthly journey, He may welcome them into His heavenly kingdom, which is the ultimate purpose of our existence. Your will. This is revealed in the Scriptures and demonstrated through His continuous care for creation. The Christian must forsake his own sinful desires, which are contrary to God's will, and must wholly surrender to it, as it is perfectly fulfilled in Heaven by the angels and saints, who know no will except that of God. May this holy will be established on earth among humanity and all living beings, as it is in Heaven; the believer is called to offer his own will to the Lord, yield to His plan, and discern His intentions in all things."},{"author-name":"Philaret of Moscow (Drosdow)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c896ffb7a2ebaf99e46539_Philaret%20of%20Moscow%20(Drosdow).png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":19,"exegesis-text":"WHAT KINGDOM IS REFERRED TO IN THE LORD'S PRAYER? The second request in the Lord's Prayer highlights the kingdom of God, which signifies the kingdom of grace that the apostle describes as ‘righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit’ (Rom. 14:17). HAS THIS KINGDOM ARRIVED? The kingdom of God has already been established for some individuals, while for others, it remains absent, as ‘sin reigns in the mortal ... (their) body, that ... (they) should obey him in his lusts’ (Rom. 6:12). HOW IS THIS REIGN ESTABLISHED? It manifests in a deeply personal and internal manner. ‘The kingdom of God will not come in a visible way...For...the kingdom of God is within you’ (Luke 17:20-21). CAN WE REQUEST THE KINGDOM OF GLORY? A believer may petition for the kingdom of glory under the term kingdom of God, which represents the ultimate joy of the faithful. ‘I have a desire to be cut off and to be with Christ’ (Phlp. 1:23). WHAT DOES THE REQUEST, ‘THY WILL BE DONE’ ENTAIL? The request for God's will to be accomplished indicates that we are asking God to ensure that all our actions and the occurrences in our lives transpire not according to our own desires, but in alignment with His divine purpose. WHY SHOULD WE AVOID ASKING FOR OUR OWN WILL? We often err in our desires, while God, knowing what is truly good for us, desires even more than we do to grant us every good thing, provided our own stubbornness does not obstruct it. ‘To Him who by the power working in us is able to do incomparably more than all that we ask or think, to Him be glory in the Church’ (Eph. 3:20-21). WHY DO WE PETITION FOR GOD'S WILL TO BE FULFILLED ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN? We seek the realization of God's will on earth, mirroring its fulfillment in heaven, as there the holy angels and blessed souls, without exception, continuously and wholly carry out God’s will."}]}
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