Patrick role modeled for the Christian community what it means to forgive others. He also taught us that we have to follow the call of God because it will make a difference in this world. He became a hero by winning the Irish to Jesus Christ.
Patrick’s life and ministry teach us to be open to the call of God in our lives: His beginning in Ireland did not dictate his future but it drew him into a love relationship with Jesus Christ. His relationship with Christ helped him to overcome adverse circumstances in his teen years. His ability to draw close to God and forgive had a dramatic impact on the Irish people. His willingness to follow God’s call makes him a hero of the faith.
Let’s learn from this man of God and ask our self a few questions, “Am I willing to draw closer to God in turbulent times? Am I willing and able to forgive those who have caused pain in my life? Am I willing to follow the call of God and even give my life to those who enslaved me? If you do you could become a hero of the faith like Patrick.”
Historical Background of Patrick:
Patrick lived in the fifth century, a time of rapid change and transition. In many ways we might say that those times of turbulence and uncertainty were not unlike our own. The Roman Empire was beginning to break up, and Europe was about to enter the so-called Dark Ages. Rome fell to barbarian invaders in 410. Within ten years of that time, the Roman forces began to leave Britain to return to Rome to defend positions back home. Life, once so orderly and predictable under Roman domination, now became chaotic and uncertain. Patrick entered the world of that time.
Partick’s biography is as follows: By Anita Mc Sorley
The uncontested, if somewhat unspecific, biographical facts about Patrick are as follows: Patrick was born Patricius somewhere in Roman Britain to a relatively wealthy family. He was not religious as a youth and, in fact, claims to have practically renounced the faith of his family. While in his teens, Patrick was kidnapped in a raid and transported to Ireland, where he was enslaved to a local warlord and worked as a shepherd until he escaped six years later. He returned home and eventually undertook studies for the priesthood with the intention of returning to Ireland as a missionary to his former captors.
It's not clear when he actually made it back to Ireland, or for how long he ministered there, but it was definitely for a number of years. By the time he wrote the Confession and the "Letter to Coroticus," Patrick was recognized by both Irish natives and the Church hierarchy as the bishop of Ireland. By this time, also, he had clearly made a permanent commitment to Ireland and intended to die there. Scholars have no reason to doubt that he did. He died on March 17 the day we celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.
Let’s briefly explore Patrick’s life and discover some spiritual lessons that we can apply to our lives.
(1) He modeled for us the importance of following the call of God in our lives. Patrick was taken as a slave at 16 from England by Irish raiders. During his time of slavery he worked as a Shepherd and he says his faith grew. He turned to God for comfort. He had been raised as a Christian but he considered his faith to be nominal even at some points nonexistent.
He escaped Ireland from a vision from God. The vision told him where to go and how to escape. He followed the leading of the Lord and escaped back to England. After his escape he went and studied in France and became a priest and a Bishop after about 15 years. God spoke to him to return to Ireland and win the Irish to Christ.
After completing his studies in France Patrick returned home and received a call in a dream. The dream is said to have had a man standing on the shore of Ireland crying out for help. Patrick believed it was a message from God that he was to return to Ireland and evangelize them with the Gospel. The Irish people would never have became Christian if someone like Patrick had not gone to them to share the message of good news. He returned to Ireland with the Gospel.
(2) He won a nation to Jesus Christ and gave us insight and wisdom in how to evangelize others. He was not afraid to face the cults and dangers of being a witness for Christ. He faced his heaviest opposition from the Druids who practiced magic, and offered human sacrifices. Many of their writings refer to the need to kill that holy Patrick.
Patrick’s courage came as a result that he died to the Lord and followed him. This made him successful in Ireland. He used their cultural beliefs to present the Gospel in a manner they could relate to. He presented the Gospel with power and authority. He stood up to the Druids. He believed in miracles and they happened.
According to Christian History the Irish believed in a tri-faced god, for three was their magical number, and gods and goddesses often manifested themselves as three. Patrick used the Shamrock to show the Irish how God was a Trinity by pointing to the three leaves on the Shamrock. The result of Patrick going to Ireland also was he abolished human sacrifice in Ireland. Among other things, the Irish where known for sacrificing prisoners of war to the war gods and newborns to the harvest gods.
He focused his energy on the leadership of the day.The royalty! As a result, their changed lives influenced the lives under them. Many of the royalty became priests, monks, and nuns. He built and planted local churches and monasteries.
(3) He trained a nation by stressing the disciplines of Christianity. To Patrick prayer was an essential tool to be used by the Christians to overcome the world of darkness. He tells of how under slavery he became a prayer warrior. He understood the importance of prayer in one’s life. He modeled the church of Acts. He stressed that believers are to be enraptured by God’s love and God’s words of love in Scripture.
He stressed Bible Study and meditation on the things of God. He did not want us just to know about God he wanted his converts to experience God in a personal intimate way.
Patrick’s life and ministry teach us to be open to the call of God in our lives. His beginning in Ireland did not dictate his future but it drew him into a love relationship with Jesus Christ. His relationship with Christ helped him to overcome adverse circumstances in his teen years. His ability to draw close to God and forgive had a dramatic impact on the Irish people and the success of his life. His willingness to follow God’s call made him a hero of the faith.
Let's learn from this man of God and ask our self a few questions, “Am I willing to draw closer to God in turbulent times? Am I willing and able to forgive those who have caused pain in my life? Am I willing to follow the call of God and even give my life to those who enslaved me? If you do you could become a hero of the faith like Patrick.”
If you learn to be like Patrick you have the benefit to really start living right were you are at. You really start to live when you take your eyes off the circumstances of life and draw closer to God. Then you will learn to recognize God’s voice. This spiritual maturity will lead you out of bondage and slavery to freedom. Then as you continue to draw closer to God through study, prayer, and spiritual disciplines you will be called upon by God to do a ministry for Him.
Who knows maybe you could win an entire nation to Christ? Maybe you could win a generation to Christ? Maybe you could win your family to Christ? The benefits to you will be eternal and the most rewarding thing you could do with your life.
-special thank you to Michael McCartney
Now, let's pray...
O Father, give us the humility which realizes its ignorance, admits its mistakes, recognizes its need, welcomes advice, accepts rebuke. Help us always to praise rather than to criticize, to sympathize rather than to discourage, to build rather than to destroy, and to think of people at their best rather than at their worst. This we ask for in thy name's sake. Amen
Until next time...
Have a blessed week!
Bibi
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