March 17, 2006> 9:59 AM
naomh pádraig There I go with the Irish again, can't help it. Happy St. Patrick's Day to you! And just to remind everyone, Padraig wasn't a wild, drunk party meister. I doubt seriously that he ever drank green beer. I'm sure he drank beer, but not green. He wasn't even Irish. The country and it's people adopted him, well, after they kidnapped him - it all worked out for the best I think. He was a Christian. He was a Priest. He was a "sent one" - an apostle. He infected a people with the Kingdom of God. There's a quote from him in my prayer book today. I'll share some of it with you...
"I give unceasing thanks to my God, who kept me faithful in the day of my testing. Today I can offer Him sacrifice with confidence, giving myself as a living victim to Christ, my Lord, who kept me safe through all my trials. I can say now: Who am I, Lord, and what is my calling, that you worked through me with such divine power? You did all this so that today among the Gentiles I might constantly rejoice and glorify your name wherever I may be, both in prosperity and in adversity. You did it so that, whatever happened to me, I might accept good and evil equally, always giving thanks to God. God showed me how to have faith in him for ever, as one who is never to be doubted." -from the Confession of St. Patrick
Now that's relevant. And again, just as when Scripture says the same thing, not that we are to accept "evil" as from God and thank him for it, but that we are to have such a faith in Him that we are able to live through it and thank Him as we constantly do - that we have a hope built into us that is unquenchable because it comes from Him. Give us that kind of maturity Father. I'll end with a prayer from the office.
God our Father, you sent Saint Patrick to preach your glory to the people of Ireland. By the help of his prayers, may all Christians proclaim your love to all men. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives in union with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
March 17, 2006
> 9:59 AM
There I go with the Irish again, can't help it. Happy St. Patrick's Day to you! And just to remind everyone, Padraig wasn't a wild, drunk party meister. I doubt seriously that he ever drank green beer. I'm sure he drank beer, but not green. He wasn't even Irish. The country and it's people adopted him, well, after they kidnapped him - it all worked out for the best I think. He was a Christian. He was a Priest. He was a "sent one" - an apostle. He infected a people with the Kingdom of God. There's a quote from him in my prayer book today. I'll share some of it with you...
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