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David Scudder
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When St. Patrick’s Day comes, there seems to be a wee bit o’ Irish in all of us. How do you celebrate the day? Many will celebrate by wear green and preparing traditional Irish foods like glazed corned beef or lamb stew and potatoes. All over our country people will be celebrating Saint Patrick, a Christian missionary to Ireland.
It’s difficult to separate fact from fiction when it comes to St. Patrick. Some of the best-known stories about this man are based on legend and not on any historical records. For example, although he is thought of as a Roman Catholic missionary, no Pope ever sent him to Ireland (the papacy didn’t exist yet) nor did the Roman church ever canonize him. We also know that the stories about St. Patrick driving all the snakes out of Ireland are a myth. History proves that there were no snakes in Ireland at that time.
Although St. Patrick lived a long time ago (about 389 to 461 A.D.), he did leave us with two important documents: Declaration and the Letter to the soldiers of Coroticus. They give us much insight about this celebrated figure. These writings reveal that he was kidnapped at the age of 16 and enslaved in Ireland for about six years. It was during this time that Patrick says, “the Lord opened to me a sense of my unbelief, that I might ...be converted with all my heart unto the Lord my God, who had looked on my humility....” He escaped captivity and returned safely home. Several years later he felt that God was calling him to go back to Ireland to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ. He was determined to return to Ireland—so determined that he did it over the objections of his parents as well as over the objections of some church leaders who feared for his safety.
St. Patrick received very little formal religious training, but he did know the Bible. His lack of education, though, did not hinder God from using him. During Patrick’s many years in Ireland, thousands turned from their pagan worship and gave their hearts to Jesus Christ. What an encouragement for us today! Whatever failures are in our past, whatever abilities we lack, God can still use us. As Paul explains, “For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, [i.e. as the average person would see it] not many mighty, not many noble; but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong” (1 Corinthians 1:26-27). None of us are too weak or uneducated to be used by God. In fact, the weaker we are, the more glory God receives when He does use us.
There is another way that we can be like St. Patrick. He is called “Saint” because of the many wonderful things he did. The Bible, though, makes it clear that anybody can be a saint. All they have to do is trust in Christ alone for the forgiveness of their sins. When that happens, God makes them His very own. Notice how Paul addresses the Christians in Corinth: “To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who have been sanctified [set apart] in Christ Jesus, saints by calling, with all who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours” (1 Corinthians 1:2).
Depending on who you are, there are two ways you can celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. If you have never done it before, turn away from your sin and trust Christ’s payment for those sins. If St. Patrick were here, that’s what he would encourage you to do, just like he did the Irish so many years ago. If you have already given your heart and life to Jesus Christ, then use St. Patrick’s life as proof that God can use you if you’re willing to give up your comforts and worldly pleasures in order to share Christ’s good news with others.
Don’t be distracted by the legends or the food on St. Patrick’s Day. Celebrate the glory of Christ’s wonderful Gospel because, “it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek” (Romans 1:16).
It’s difficult to separate fact from fiction when it comes to St. Patrick. Some of the best-known stories about this man are based on legend and not on any historical records. For example, although he is thought of as a Roman Catholic missionary, no Pope ever sent him to Ireland (the papacy didn’t exist yet) nor did the Roman church ever canonize him. We also know that the stories about St. Patrick driving all the snakes out of Ireland are a myth. History proves that there were no snakes in Ireland at that time.
Although St. Patrick lived a long time ago (about 389 to 461 A.D.), he did leave us with two important documents: Declaration and the Letter to the soldiers of Coroticus. They give us much insight about this celebrated figure. These writings reveal that he was kidnapped at the age of 16 and enslaved in Ireland for about six years. It was during this time that Patrick says, “the Lord opened to me a sense of my unbelief, that I might ...be converted with all my heart unto the Lord my God, who had looked on my humility....” He escaped captivity and returned safely home. Several years later he felt that God was calling him to go back to Ireland to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ. He was determined to return to Ireland—so determined that he did it over the objections of his parents as well as over the objections of some church leaders who feared for his safety.
St. Patrick received very little formal religious training, but he did know the Bible. His lack of education, though, did not hinder God from using him. During Patrick’s many years in Ireland, thousands turned from their pagan worship and gave their hearts to Jesus Christ. What an encouragement for us today! Whatever failures are in our past, whatever abilities we lack, God can still use us. As Paul explains, “For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, [i.e. as the average person would see it] not many mighty, not many noble; but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong” (1 Corinthians 1:26-27). None of us are too weak or uneducated to be used by God. In fact, the weaker we are, the more glory God receives when He does use us.
There is another way that we can be like St. Patrick. He is called “Saint” because of the many wonderful things he did. The Bible, though, makes it clear that anybody can be a saint. All they have to do is trust in Christ alone for the forgiveness of their sins. When that happens, God makes them His very own. Notice how Paul addresses the Christians in Corinth: “To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who have been sanctified [set apart] in Christ Jesus, saints by calling, with all who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours” (1 Corinthians 1:2).
Depending on who you are, there are two ways you can celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. If you have never done it before, turn away from your sin and trust Christ’s payment for those sins. If St. Patrick were here, that’s what he would encourage you to do, just like he did the Irish so many years ago. If you have already given your heart and life to Jesus Christ, then use St. Patrick’s life as proof that God can use you if you’re willing to give up your comforts and worldly pleasures in order to share Christ’s good news with others.
Don’t be distracted by the legends or the food on St. Patrick’s Day. Celebrate the glory of Christ’s wonderful Gospel because, “it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek” (Romans 1:16).
COMMENTS
Ed on 2009-03-21 19:39:47
Thank you for the new understanding about St.Patrick's day. There has never been a true explaination for this day during all the years in school. That gives new meaning to the day rather than getting sloshed at a bar. Thank you
Thank you for the new understanding about St.Patrick's day. There has never been a true explaination for this day during all the years in school. That gives new meaning to the day rather than getting sloshed at a bar. Thank you
