The Sermon on the Mount (Bossuet)/Day 23
Twenty-third Day
'Our Father, Who art in Heaven' — Matt. vi. 9.
YET again ‘ Our Father '; but this time we must add ‘Who art in heaven.’ Thou art everywhere; but specially Thou art in heaven as in the place where Thou gatherest together Thy children, where Thou showest them Thyself and Thy glory, and where Thou hast appointed them their inheritance.
St Paul, when he had told us how the Spirit gives testimony that we are children of God, added, ' and if sons, heirs also ’: and even this is not all: — it is difficult to realise the full measure of our happiness, for we are ' heirs, indeed, of God, and joint-heirs with Christ.’ [1] We shall have the same inheritance — the same kingdom. We shall be seated on Christ’s own throne; we shall share in His glory, and shall be happy in Him, through Him, and with Him. Hence we cry: 'Our Father Who art in heaven,' that we may remember where He calls us.
Who could fail to love Him Who makes us not only His heirs, but co-heirs with His beloved Son? And who could fail to desire that lovely inheritance? It is given only to those who love Him. Our inheritance is God Himself: He is our one good and our sole reward. 'I,’ He said, 'am thy protector, and thy reward exceeding great ’ [2]: — too great, that is, for your deserts, but not exceeding the immense goodness of your God.