Evil... It's not an exaggeration to say we find ourselves confronted with evil at almost every turn. And sin... Everywhere I look, I find evidence of the seven deadly sins - pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, wrath, indifference - all staining the fabric of our shared life on this planet. But it's not fashionable, not socially acceptable, to name the evil and sin that's all around us. Perhaps we've normalized these realities to the degree that we no longer recognize them for what they are...
Drawing on Pope John Paul II’s letter, The Splendor of Truth in which he relied on the Vatican II document, Joy and Hope, the American bishops offered these examples of intrinsic evil:
“Whatever is opposed to life itself,
such as any type of murder, genocide, abortion,
euthanasia or willful self-destruction;
- whatever violates the integrity of the human person,
such as mutilation, torments inflicted on body or mind,
attempts to coerce the will itself;
- whatever insults human dignity,
such as subhuman living conditions,
arbitrary imprisonment,
deportation, slavery, prostitution,
the selling of women and children;
- as well as disgraceful working conditions
where men and women are treated
as mere tools for profit
rather than as free and responsible persons;
- all these things and others of their like
are infamies indeed.
They poison human society…
they are a supreme dishonor to the Creator. "
I recognize the power of the evil one and the reality of sin in the world - and in my own life as well. I know my own personal struggle to be a more faithful child of God, a sibling of Jesus, anointed by the Spirit - in the face of evil that tempts me to trust and follow my own mind and will rather than render myself vulnerable to divine wisdom and grace.
In that light, then, I offer this Night Prayer...
Deliver us, Lord, from every evil:
from its cunning, conniving wiles and schemes
at work in the world, among and within us,
crafty and sly, subtle and shrewd...
Deliver us, Lord, from evil's inducement
to lay down our words and take up arms,
to plunder and pillage,
to kill and destroy...
Deliver us, Lord, from any evil
that feeds our hearts
with guile and bitterness,
spite and suspicion,
rage and resentment…
Deliver us, Lord, from the bigoted evil
that tempts us to hate and spurn our neighbor,
to reject, despise and condemn the other,
simply for being - other -
for not being just like us...
Deliver us, Lord, from the lying evil
that bends and twists, distorts and denies
the truth of the simple wisdom
that saves and sets us free…
Deliver us, Lord, from evil that works
to excuse and condone, indulge and concede
the death of innocent, blameless souls
who’ve done no harm,
who've committed no wrong…
Deliver us from, Lord, from the scurrilous evil
that gossips and bad-mouths
smears and stains, destroys and defiles
the virtue and honor
of someone’s good reputation...
Deliver us, Lord, from the grotesque evil
of making a profit off drugs and porn,
and weapons that harm and maim and kill;
of making a living through grifting and graft
and fraud and scams,
extortion and insider trading...
Deliver us, Lord, from evil's grip
shackling those who are most in need
of the freedom and rights
belonging to all
and given you, our Creator...
Deliver us, Lord, from the devious evil
that lurks in the hearts,
in the plans and the deeds,
in the machinations
of those who hate and despise us...
Deliver us, Lord, from every evil
haunting and taunting, teasing and tempting
our personal pride, our selfish desires,
our willful and obstinate minds…
Deliver us, Lord, from the evil of those
who blaspheme your name
and all that is holy, all that is just,
all that is good and pure…
Deliver us into your mercy, O Lord:
into your grace, into your peace,
into your pure and abiding love…
Lead us not into temptation
but deliver us, Lord, we pray,
from the prowling presence of evil
roaming our world
and seeking the ruin of souls...
Deliver us, Lord:
by the strength of your arm,
the gifts of your Holy Spirit,
the loving protection of angels and saints
and the prayers of Mary our
Mother,
the Queen and the Gate of heaven...
Protect us, Lord, while we're awake
and watch over us while we sleep
that awake, we might keep watch with you
and asleep, rest in your peace...
Amen.
We Look to You by Joel Sczebel, Matt Searles
If a video doesn't appear below, click here!
