As a person with Irish ancestry on both sides, I do not see anything wrong with celebrating Irish culture on St. Patrick's Day. Breaking bread over traditional Irish cuisine amid the rambling sounds of a fiddle and bow, dancing to an Irish jig - is great. It brings people together.
Unfortunately in the U.S. St. Paddy's Day has become a day of drinking until dawn - bad version of Madri Gras.
The issue in the secular celebration is the lack of focus on Saint Patrick, a man who is an example we can all learn from in his courage and hope of faith and selflessness in adversity and trial. St. Patrick is Ireland's patron saint, not merely because of the miraculous acts he did in God's authority in his conversion of Ireland to Christianity - I think the Irish also uphold St. Patrick so closely because St. Patrick was a person of strong character who gave his life in service to the people of Ireland. St. Patrick believed by his faith in Christ that all are worth saving and gave himself in the fire of the Holy Spirit to Ireland.
I decided to take time to read up on Saint Patrick. What fascinates me in studying the lives of the saints is how God calls the most unexpected to serve and often asks great things of the humblest of people. God wants to be in a relationship with us. God loves us as expression in the sacrificing of HIS son, Jesus CHRIST - who is our advocate and the Holy Spirit to guide us and help us perceive life - beyond the narrow confines of human doubt and anger. While Saints are guardians of faith and examples to follow - the biggest example I learn from the saints is that God loves us - and works through our flawed sinful state to transform our soul, mind and heart, physical and spiritual to follow him. Following God isn't about perfection, Christ carries the burden of the cross and through it the perfect gift of grace, rather we are called to help the will of the heavenly kingdom on earth. I likened this to when a member of the crowd aided Christ with the weight of the cross on the way to Calvary - Christ carries the load, and we can faithfully work in the world through Christ's promise and glory.
When I was a child I loved to search for a four-leaf clover - believing if I could obtain it I would possess magic of some kind. As I walked through our neighborhood park today I was content to see the hundreds of tiny fledgling three-leaf clover shamrocks -Saint Patrick used the Shamrock - Three - Leaf Clover to explain the holy mystery and truth of the Holy Trinity. What is more awe-inspiring that in the noise of the hubbub of our chaotic days to simple look at the simplicity of a clover - 3 in 1 and comprehend the wonders of the Trinity - something so small signifies the creation of God's hands in every aspect of our lives.
We have free will and it is up to us to let the Trinity work miracles in our life. Miracles can be great as casting out snakes from an entire country - or as simple as a lonely clover struggling amidst a broken concrete sidewalk. Even in our suffering and the dark days of life God is with us, Christ is for us and the Holy Spirit is within us. Miracles are great and even greater when small. Jesus calls sinners to his table and in his blood forgiveness is given, even the wretched sinners who believe can serve God's kingdom. Ask. Believe. Receive. The magic of Saint Patrick's Day offers more wealth than a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow - it is the everliving salvation and gift of a relationship with a DIVINE CREATOR who loves us, heals us and guides us and seeks after all the lost who have strayed to come to the heavenly kingdom in Christ.
Saint Patrick Biography:
St. Patrick was born around 385 in Scotland. His parents were Romans living in Britain in charge of the colonies.
*Let's stop for a second, because these facts automatically give us a window into Patrick's background - he is not the sort you might peg at birth as the Patron Saint of Ireland. Patrick is a Roman Citizen - who were constantly at odds with the Celts and other native tribes. Even if his family had local ties - they were Roman. By this time Rome was Christian - but it still is a big jump to think that an heir of a prominent family would end up a suffering servant in a foreign land advocating God's peace and spreading the word of Christ among the Irish. This is an example of calling the unexpected to his service and transforming human hearts and world view into God's focus and light.
At fourteen, Patrick was captured during a raiding party and taken to Ireland as a slave to herd and tend sheep. God puts Patrick into what at first glance looks like a horrible forsaken situation - he is enslaved and left in a land where he is a stranger - but God often uses painful experiences we are placed in for HIS glory - God needed Patrick to go to Ireland - God never abandoned him, even in his enslavement - Patrick's suffering was refined by the pureness of God's grace.
Patrick was held by Druids and pagans. He learned the language of the people who held him and practices. In his humbled state of enslavement, Patrick turned to God in prayer . He wrote:
"The love of God and his fear grew in me more and more, as did the faith, and my soul was rosed, so that, in a single day, I have said as many as a hundred prayers and in the night, nearly the same." "I prayed in the woods and on the mountain, even before dawn. I felt no hurt from the snow or ice or rain."
What beautiful words - I know I have found peace and pain in my darkest hours - it often takes being in a state of destitution to turn to God, because we think we can solve everything ourselves...Patrick's humility and courage in captivity turned the otherwise unbearable situation into a blessing and opportunity to fulfill God's work in the world.
Patrick escaped Ireland at age twenty after having a dream from God. He found sailors who took him back to Britain to be reunited with his family
Patrick had another dream in which the people of Ireland called out to him "We beg you, holy youth, to come and walk among us once more."
Patrick began his studies for priesthood, ordained by St. Germanus the Bishop of Auxerre. Later, Patrick was ordained a bishop and sent to take the Gospel to Ireland. Patrick spent the remainder of his life preaching the Gospel to Ireland, converting many. He and his disciples preached and converted thousands and began building churches all over the country. His faith helped pour out the hand of heaven into the hearts and minds of Ireland.
Patrick's unwavering faith in God, his humility, gentleness and total devotion and trust in Christ is an example to us all. He feared nothing, not even death - because he believed in the importance of his mission in ministering to the people of Ireland. We too can learn to walk in the footsteps of Patrick showing hope and courage in desperate situations and caring for those who seek to harm us through forgiveness (I say this because Patrick was kidnapped and enslaved by the Irish - yet he made it his life's mission to free them from the bonds of slavery to sin)
Someday I hope to visit Ireland - stand on the cliffs and gaze on the green isle through the mists and perceive the spirit of the place - Christ's love for all nations and all peoples - the history lover in me would love to retrace the steps of Patrick - learning from his example so I may too live actively as a follower of Christ.
"Christ be within me, Christ behind me, Christ before me, Christ beside me, Christ to win me, Christ to comfort and restore me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ inquired, Christ in danger, Christ in hearts of all that love me, Christ in mouth of friend and stranger."
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