Our Father: Doxology: For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and for ever. Amen.

Doxology” comes from the Greek words “Doxa” and “Logos” which mean “Glory” and “Word”. Doxology is thus a word of glory. Such words are common in the Scriptures and in the liturgy. The words, “for the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and for ever”, are an example. Through these words, we celebrate the glory of our God, the chief end of all our prayers.

The doxology of the Lord’s Prayer has been included as an independent item by Latin Church Roman Catholics, especially in the Roman Rite of the Mass. However, some Lutheran and Anglican books of prayer attach the doxology to the Lord’s Prayer. Apart from this slight difference, it remains the case that all Christians identify with this doxology.

Indeed, although the doxology of the Lord’s prayer is not contained in Luke’s Gospel, nor in Matthew’s, one of its first known uses is in the Didache, an early Christian treatise which constitutes the oldest surviving written catechism. Furthermore, it has similarities with the prayer of David in the first book of Chronicles: Yours, O Lord, are the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty; for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours; yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all (1 Ch 29:11).

The doxology takes up again the first three petitions of the Lord’s prayer: the glorification of his name, the coming of his reign, and the power of his saving will. But these prayers are now proclaimed as adoration and thanksgiving.

Moreover, the doxology opens the Lord’s Prayer to the adoration of the Trinity and manifests our waiting for our salvation. As Saint Paul says, God, the Father of Glory, puts the power in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places (Ep 1:20). Then comes the end, when Christ hands over the kingdom to God the Father, after he has destroyed every ruler and every authority power (1 Co 15:24). The mystery of our salvation will be thus brought to its completion in the Holy Spirit, because God will be all in all (1 Co 15:28). To which we answer: Amen!