This summer, a neighboring pastor and I have been utilizing my new book, Martin Luther’s Small Catechism – A 21st Century Edition, as a preaching series. We follow the Narrative Lectionary throughout the school year, leaving room for thematic series during the summer. This approach is user-friendly, as the sections are concise and the updated language, along with the "words for today" segments, make the material accessible to everyone.

As we conclude our series, we are diving into Luther’s teachings on the Lord’s Prayer over the next four weeks. This past Sunday, we explored the phrase “hallowed be your name.” Our discussion centered on the holiness of God and what distinguishes Him from everything and everyone else.

Luther’s insights are invaluable here; he reminds us that “God’s name is indeed holy in itself” regardless of our prayers. Our prayers do not create this holiness; it exists inherently! However, we pray so “that it might be holy among us, too.” Faithful prayer acknowledges God’s true nature and simultaneously transforms us.

Martin Luther emphasizes that prayer is as much about our alignment with God as it is about honoring Him. We honor God’s holiness when we “align ourselves with the things that make God holy” (from the “words for today” section on this prayer). The God we encounter in Christ embodies pure, unconditional love and grace, and we reflect this divine nature when we act with love and grace ourselves.

Fred Buechner once said, “If you want to be holy, be kind.” Kindness is a profound characteristic rooted in genuine love and concern for others. It is more than just an action; it is an attitude and a way of being present with people. You can be “nice” without being kind. Many of us recall a parent intervening during sibling squabbles, insisting, “Stop fighting. Be nice to each other!” We complied to avoid trouble, but our actions lacked true kindness.

Reflecting on an article I wrote years ago for The Lutheran magazine, now known as Living Lutheran, titled “Nice is Not Enough,” I realize that my understanding has evolved. While it raised eyebrows at the time, it emphasized that God, not us, should be the focal point of our congregations.

Years later, I still believe that “nice is not enough.” In fact, being merely nice misses the mark entirely. We are called to reflect God’s holiness, which cannot be achieved through the mechanics of good hospitality programs alone (though those are important). True reflection of God’s holiness begins with internal transformation rather than external actions. We need to embody God’s love for people, starting not with niceness but with genuine kindness. In doing so, we allow God’s holiness to shine through us.