Podcast Summary: The Rosary in a Year (with Fr. Mark-Mary Ames) – Day 15: Deliver Us From Evil

Episode Overview

In this episode (Day 15: Deliver Us From Evil), Fr. Mark-Mary Ames reflects on the final petition of the Our Father, “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” Through the lens of Jesus as the Good Shepherd, Fr. Mark-Mary explores how God not only forgives and saves us, but personally leads, protects, and heals our deep wounds of mistrust—drawing us back into communion with Himself. The meditation ties together biblical imagery, the Catechism, and the heart of the Christian life: trusting in the goodness of God.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Good Shepherd and His Flock

• God as Good Shepherd: Fr. Mark-Mary introduces the idea of examining the final petition from the perspective of God as the Good Shepherd, referencing Psalm 23 and Jesus’ words about seeking the lost sheep.
  • “The Lord is the good shepherd who leads his flock, who delivers, protects his flock, who lays down his life for his sheep, and who goes in search of his sheep.” (01:00)

The Garden of Eden and the Core Wound

• Original Trust and Temptation: He draws parallels between Adam and Eve’s time in Eden and the trust they lost due to the devil’s temptation.
  • “God, the good shepherd in creating us, he creates Adam and Eve and places them in the garden in paradise and gives them all that they need...Satan enters into this garden...He questions them. He sows seeds of doubt and distrust of the goodness of the Good Shepherd. They sin.” (02:00)
• Catechism Reference (CCC 397): Fr. Mark-Mary quotes the Catechism to highlight how humanity’s wound is ultimately a lack of trust in God.
  • "Man tempted by the devil let his trust in his Creator die in his heart and abusing his freedom, disobeyed God's command. This is what man's first sin consisted of. All subsequent sin would be disobedience toward God and a lack of trust in his goodness." (03:00)

Jesus, the Good Shepherd, and Restoration

• Christ’s Mission: Jesus restores not just what was lost, but brings healing to the core wound via his example and sacrifice—showing us the true depth of God’s goodness.
  • “Jesus comes like the good shepherd who leaves the 99 in search of the one. And he comes searching for you. And he comes searching for me to lay down his life for his flock.” (04:25)
• Restoring Trust: Jesus protects and delivers us by healing our mistrust of God’s goodness through His life, passion, and resurrection.
  • “By healing up that core foundational wound where we lack a trust in God's goodness. By revealing to us the goodness of God, he reveals to us how good he is...even though we rebel against him in disobedience and sin, still he comes and loves us unto death.” (05:00)

Deliverance from Evil Through Communion

• Invitation to Deep Relationship: The petition “deliver us from evil” is a plea for restoration to divine trust, communion, and protection.
  • “It is in Jesus that we are being shepherded back to the kingdom of heaven, back to the authentic garden, which is a share in Jesus's own relationship with the Father.” (06:30)
• Sanctifying Grace: Living in a relationship of trust and union with the Father, as Jesus perfectly does, is our ultimate protection from temptation and evil.

The Prayerful Response

• Returning to the Father’s Heart: The episode ends with a prayerful call to allow the Holy Spirit to bring us into the Father’s embrace.
  • “Jesus Christ, our good shepherd, bring us home. Bring us to the Father's heart where we may know his goodness and find peace.” (08:00)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Core of Sin (Quoting Catechism):
  “All subsequent sin would be disobedience toward God and a lack of trust in his goodness.” (03:15)
• Jesus as the Searching Shepherd:
  “He comes searching for you. And he comes searching for me to lay down his life for his flock.” (04:25)
• Healing the Wound:
  “By revealing to us the goodness of God, he reveals to us how good he is...even though we rebel against him...still he comes and loves us unto death.” (05:15)
• Ultimate Deliverance:
  “We are being shepherded back to the kingdom of heaven, back to the authentic garden, which is a share in Jesus's own relationship with the Father.” (06:30)
• Closing Plea:
  “Jesus Christ, our good shepherd, bring us home. Bring us to the Father's heart where we may know his goodness and find peace.” (08:00)

Important Timestamps

• [01:00] — Introduction: God as Good Shepherd and connection to Psalm 23
• [02:00] — Retelling the Garden of Eden and humanity’s original wound
• [03:00] — Catechism on sin as loss of trust in God’s goodness
• [04:25] — Jesus as the Good Shepherd seeking the lost
• [05:00] — How Christ heals our core wound and models trust
• [06:30] — Being shepherded into communion with the Father through Christ
• [08:00] — Concluding prayer for deliverance and trust in God

Conclusion

Fr. Mark-Mary’s reflection in Day 15 gently guides listeners to the heart of the Christian life: trusting the goodness of God, even in our weakness and sin. By seeing Jesus as the Good Shepherd who actively seeks out, heals, and leads each one of us, we are invited to a deeper relationship—one where the ultimate deliverance from evil comes from being restored to trust in the Father’s love. The episode ends with heartfelt prayers, grounding these truths in daily spiritual practice.