‘My spirit was stirred up’ - March 17
Today’s Readings: Feast of Saint Patrick of Ireland Psalm 96; 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8; Matthew 28:16-20
Today’s Reflection:
“Because God is God, there are purposes in which we belong which are larger than our purposes.”
Walter Brueggemann, a Biblical scholar, wrote these words, which sum up well the common thread between today’s readings from Genesis and Luke. Loving our enemies is all about setting aside our own preferences and purposes in favor of something bigger, of something beyond ourselves.
About 400 years after the birth of Jesus, a 16-year-old in what we know today as Scotland was kidnapped by raiders who took him to Ireland where he lived as a slave for six years, forced to work herding swine. Before being forced into slavery, he had grown up in religious family, the son of a deacon and grandson of a priest, but he had not been particularly religious himself. But under these changed, more harsh life circumstances, the young man turned his life more toward God, and became a person of prayer amidst his life as a slave. Later he wrote that, “My love and fear of God increased greatly, and my faith grew, and my spirit was stirred up” (Patrick’s Confessions, quoted in Mystics & Miracles, p. 155). It was through prayer that the young man heard God telling him to flee to a boat some 200 miles away—so he escaped the pastures and made his way to the port he had heard the voice directing him toward.
After being reunited with his family, the young man discerned a call to the priesthood and a call to return to Ireland. After training and working as a priest in France for over 20 years, the man eventually made his way back to Ireland, just as he had been called to do. He returned as the Bishop of Ireland and is well known to us today as Ireland’s patron, Saint Patrick. Discerning a call to return to the land where he had been forced to live as a slave, called to lead the entire island to faith in the love of Christ, Patrick was faithful to the teaching of Jesus: “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.”
As we reflect on our lives today, let us pray that God will direct our hearts to love not just those who it’s easy for us to love, but especially that God will direct our hearts to love those whom it is most difficult for us to love.
Picture for a moment in your mind a particular person, maybe even a group of people, who feels like an enemy to you on some level—someone who frustrates or annoys you, someone who has wronged you, someone who is working against you, or someone who is working against all that is most important to you. Carry this person or these people with you into prayer this day, and throughout this coming week. Pray that God will help you to love them as Jesus commands.
Becky+
Daily Challenge
You may read more about the life and faith of Saint Patrick here.
A Prayer for Saint Patrick’s Day
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, now and ever. Amen.