Happy St. Patrick’s Day
Do you have your “green” on? After all, it’s St. Patrick’s Day and who wants to be pinched? I’m told I’m 1/16th Irish so I’m wearing my Claddagh Irish ring and my sweetheart’s St. Patrick’s Celtic cross necklace that he wore most of the time. He loved St. Patrick and what he stood for, and so do I. It’s a great day to celebrate him, God’s green earth and enjoy the company of others, while remembering the true meaning of St. Patrick’s Day!
When we were talking about St. Patrick’s Day during a pickleball game, one of our foreign residents asked about the day. I gave him a short explanation of the religious side, the 3-leaf clover, AND the traditional side of wearing green so as not to get pinched. I think he liked the idea of pinching!
Tonight, my community will be celebrating St. Patrick’s Day in our Great Room. I’ll definitely wear green — no pinching this girl! I’ve always enjoyed corned beef & cabbage or Irish Stew, and Celtic music on St. Patrick’s Day. With all the good-hearted fun, I know, like other religious holidays, this is another watered down, rather, “beered-down” day when we get distracted from the true story behind the day.
Please, let’s pause to reflect on the true meaning of this day that should be honored beyond the green beer, wearing green and being pinched. It is a day to offer thanks for St. Patrick’s example of great faith!
St. Patrick was born A.D. 389 in England. At the age of 16, he was kidnapped and sold as a slave in Ireland. Six years later he escaped and returned home to Britain but became burdened for the spiritual condition of the Irish. He eventually returned to their land as a missionary for 30 years where he established more than 200 churches and led more than 100,000 to faith in Christ. He used the 3-leaf shamrock to talk about the Trinity. His death on March 17, 461 is remembered each year as St. Patrick’s Day. Patrick was sold as a slave, and like Joseph in the Bible, “what the enemy meant for evil, God turned for good”. (Genesis 50:20)
Can you imagine what must have gone through Patrick’s mind when he heard God’s call to return to the land where he was once a slave? Instead of running to his safe place, he followed God’s plan for his life. And isn’t that exactly what we are called to do? Jeremiah 29:11 says “For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.”
Listen to how utterly consumed St. Patrick was in his relationship with God in his “Breastplate” prayer:
“I arise today through God’s strength to pilot me, God’s might to uphold me,
God’s wisdom to guide me, God’s eye to look before me, God’s ear to hear me,
God’s word to speak for me, God’s hand to guard me.
Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me,
Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ when I arise.
Christ in the heart of everyone one who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me, Christ in every ear that hears me.
I arise today through His mighty strength.”
St. Patrick was a man who boldly listened to God’s call upon his life and achieved so much for God’s glory. His witness, his prayers, his passion, and his example really are something to celebrate today.
The green I wear today honors him and honors the God he served. I’m in good company with him because I also desire to be consumed by Christ. St. Patrick’s prayer is my prayer, too!