Some would translate the seventh petition this way: and deliver us from the Evil One. And that is a legitimate translation of the Greek, indicating the awesome urgency of the prayer’s intention. There is really bad stuff out there in the world, and down in the depths of our own being. We can become enslaved by evil. We can be terribly harmed by evil. There are people around who manifest evil. Just being nice to such people will not win the day. If you doubt this, read Scott Peck’s book, The People of the Lie, which is a long and I’d say very depressing study of how people really do become evil, and really do intend to hurt others. Let’s not think that mere communication and management techniques will be able to save us or the world.

The tradition is solidly behind the belief that there are universal principalities and powers, some of which are demonic. There is an “Evil One”, the prince of lies, known as Satan, who works to delude us about life and God. There is the reality (although rare) of demonic possession. Something in us knows this, otherwise we’d not be scared or spooked by movies like the Exorcist.

Read or listen to the news, then with a spiritual sensibility. Everything is not about science, technology, Yankee ingenuity, or social engineering. Roaming the world are evil powers greater than the powers of humanity. In the face of such evil, our prayer becomes a poignant, and necessary, cry: O God, deliver us from evil.

And the answer to that prayer is Easter! Alleluia! God’s hears the pleas of his people!