"Deliver us from evil" - using a high-flying robe

During the Aug. 13 outdoor service in Tower Grove Park, Pastor Travis preached and led a discussion about the closing phrase in the Lord’s Prayer, “deliver us from evil.” A key part of the discussion focused on how we envision evil. Do we chiefly see evil as the systems and forces that shape our actions, something akin to the “principalities and powers” that Paul writes about his letter to the Ephesians? Or is it more personalized, a specific adversary, “the evil one,” sometimes characterized as the devil or Satan? Both these are commonplace interpretations and the tension between the two has its roots in the translations favored by Western theology (systems) and the Eastern theology (a specific adversary).

In the same week as I encountered this fascinating insight, I also cam across a wonderful folktale from the Buddhist tradition, which also helps to illuminate the phrase “deliver us from evil.” It gave me a entirely fresh way to think about the battle between good and evil.

Some background: Mara is a figure in Buddhism very roughly analogous to the devil, a demon whose role is to tempt and to distract. Mara appears in a series of stories set around the time of the Buddha’s enlightenment, tempting Buddha in ways that inevitably bring to mind the stories of Jesus praying in the desert (Matthew 4:1-11).

The story (as retold in No Mud, No Lotus by Thich Nhat Hanh, p.79-80):

They say that before Buddha’s enlightenment, when the world was under the reign of Mara, there was a lot of war and violence. People suffered enormously.

[Soon after his enlightenment] Buddha asked Mara, “Can we have an area here to sit and walk mindfully and peacefully?”

Mara said, “Sure, if you sit and walk that’s fine. How much space do you want to have for practicing sitting meditation and walking meditation?”

Back then they didn’t have fancy measuring devices. The Buddha said, “I have three robes. If you agree, I’ll take off my outer robe and I’ll throw it up in the sky as high as I can. The shadow cast on the Earth by my robe is the land I want to have for sitting, walking, and living mindfully.”

Mara said, “Well, the most it could be is just a few miles. Okay.” The Buddha rolled up his robe and threw it up in the sky. The robe went high, high, high up. Then it opened, and the shadow of the robe covered the whole planet.

From then on, the Buddha and his students walked all over the Earth practicing compassion and mindfulness and helping people suffer less. We all have the right to do the same on this planet, lessening suffering and increasing happiness. This Earth is not just the territory of Mara, but also the territory of the Buddha. 

That is one awe-inspiring and stylish way to “deliver us from evil”!

Do you have any interesting insights into the Lord’s Prayer? How has your understanding of the prayer changed over your lifetime? What stood out to you most in recent weeks, in the light of Travis’ recent sermon series on the prayer? If you have something to share, please consider penning a post for the church’s blog, by dropping a line to timwoodcock@speedpost.net