March 17th, 2021

St. Patrick’s Day commemorates the death day of the 16 year old boy who was kidnapped from England by raiders and taken as a slave to Ireland. He spent 6 years as a shepherd there and, in his own words, “found God.” He went back to England, got ordained as a priest, then returned to Ireland to spread the Good News of the Gospel.

The counterintuitive ways of God are evident in St. Patrick’s story. It is in returning to, rather than avoiding, the places of difficulty and sorrow that we find healing and joy. When Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers, God was at work for good. As he told his brothers, “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.” (Genesis 50:20)

Hear, Hear! Put on your green and raise a glass today to the mysterious ways of God!

“Almighty God, in your providence you chose your servant Patrick to be the apostle to the Irish people, to bring those who were wandering in darkness and error to the true light and knowledge of you: Grant us so to walk in that way that we may come at last to the light of everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.” (Collect for Patrick of Ireland)