Dear friends,

March 17th is commonly known as St. Patrick’s Day. Patrick was born in Britain, but was taken as a slave to Ireland when he was about 16. He escaped six years later and returned back home. His dates are not exactly known because much of his life has been intertwined with Palladius, who was also a Christian leader in Ireland during the same time period. Patrick felt called by God to return to Ireland and tell them about Jesus Christ.

Legend says that Patrick drove the snakes out of Ireland. Ireland probably did not have any literal snakes. The reference to snakes may be aimed at the Druids who used the serpent as their symbol. It could also refer to the Pelagians who taught that moral perfection may be attained without divine grace. Such a belief caused them to be called serpents by orthodox Christians.

Patrick is also said to have used the shamrock to illustrate the Trinity as being three in one. While some of the details about his life are fuzzy, it is clear that he loved Jesus as his Lord and Savior and wanted to tell as many people as possible about Jesus. He is to be remembered for his missionary zeal to people who were considered foreigners to the Brits.

Be Thou My Vision is an old Irish hymn sung to an Irish melody. The High Kings of Ireland had their seat of power on Tara hill. Patrick wanted to light a huge signal fire on neighboring Slane hill on Easter morning. The Irish King refused to grant permission and Patrick lit the fire anyway. The “High King of Heaven” was to be obeyed above the High King of Ireland!

Patrick is believed to have died on March 17th. His day is so much more than wearing green, drinking green beer or dying the Charles River green in Boston. His day is a day to remember a young man who returned to those who had enslaved him to tell them how they could be truly free in Jesus Christ. So, enjoy St. Patrick’s Day, but more importantly bind Jesus Christ to yourself daily as did Patrick.

I bind unto myself the name,the strong name of the Trinity,
by invocation of the same,the Three in One, the One in Three,
of whom all nature has creation, eternal Father, Spirit, Word.
Praise to the Lord of my salvation, salvation is of Christ the Lord. — Amen.

Love in Christ, David