SAINT PATRICK
386-460
Psalm 25:12
“Who then, is the man that fears the Lord? He will instruct him in the way chosen for him.”
Saint Patrick shows people how to find God’s clear guidance. He shows us that living God’s way means that we follow His plan, not ours—even when things get bad. Patrick was born in Britain, when it was part of the Roman Empire. Christianity was the accepted religion, Catholicism its only church. His grandfather was a priest, and his father a deacon in the Roman church. Naturally, Patrick was expected to follow the same path of serving in the church. Surely that was his birthright. Right?
At age 16, Patrick was kidnapped by pirates. He was sold into slavery in Ireland. There he worked as a shepherd for 6 years. Thomas Cahill wrote about Patrick, saying that he was mistreated; his two constant companions were hunger and nakedness. Patrick survived by remaining in prayer. God’s creation awed him. He believed that all the world belonged to God. He found power in nature. Does this remind you of another shepherd named David—who wrote many Psalms?
One night, a mysterious voice told Patrick to leave Ireland. He walked to a seaport, and miraculously found passage away from Ireland. He eventually landed back in Britain. He began studying for the priesthood. His years as a slave prevented him from obtaining formal education, what his classmates received before furthering their instruction in the church. But Patrick’s strength came from knowing God through prayer, and his wonder at God’s creation.
Legend holds that Patrick would take a three-leaf clover and ask, “Is this one leaf or three?”
People would respond, “Both.”
He’d explain, “So it is with the Holy Trinity. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are one God. Three persons in one.”
Besides Patrick being a practical teacher, he was also a radically different public figure. His common-sense teaching went beyond the shamrock and Holy Trinity. Patrick’s ability to envision the invisible God all around him enabled him to preach like Apostle Paul. For Patrick surely related to Romans 1:20: “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—His eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.”
Patrick’s unusual background appealed to the poor Irish people, when he returned to Ireland. They were attracted to a man who could teach Godly principles on a down-to-earth level. They related way better to Patrick than someone who couples high speech with philosophical teaching about God.1
Patrick was named Ireland’s patron Saint.
Take Home Nugget
Regardless of people’s plans for their lives, God’s plan yields them the best.
We see in part; God sees the whole.
1 Cahill, Thomas. How the Irish Saved Civilization. New York: Doubleday, 1995.
HAPPY ST. PATRICK’S DAY!
J.D. Griffith
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Written for http://www.biblestudyforlids.com/
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