3/17/11 St. Patrick and the Resurrection

23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24 Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:23-26)

10 I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death. (Philippians 3:10)



(Patrick of Ireland died 3/17/493 this is his gravemarker in Downpatrick)
Thoughts: "The Life and Acts of St. Patrick" says this about Patrick of Ireland: "For the blind and the lame, the deaf and the dumb, the palsied, the lunatic, the leprous, the epileptic, all who labored under any disease, did he in the Name of the Holy Trinity restore unto the power of their limbs and unto entire health; and in these good deeds was he daily practiced. Thirty and three dead men, some of whom had been many years buried, did this great reviver raise from the dead, as above we have more fully recorded." Dublin, Ireland is supposedly named after an Irish princess, Dublina, whom Patrick raised from the dead in the power and name of Christ.  See http://olrl.org/lives/patrick.shtml for more information on Patrick's miracles of resurrection.   Patrick admitted in his own words that he had performed miracles, but quickly noted that it was not by his ability, but by the power and grace of God.Jesus is raised from the dead and ascended to heaven; Patrick is buried in Downpatrick.  In our secular culture, we would prefer to think of Patrick as an excuse for drinking too much green beer, but Patrick was a courageous missionary who was used by God to convert a nation.  He is an example for us as he followed the example of Christ.

Prayer: May I know the power of your resurrection.  May your grace that gives life, give me hope.

3/17/10- Psalm 139:1-18 St. Patrick's Day, God's knowledge and protection

3/17- Psalm 139:1-18


1 O LORD, you have searched me and you know me. 2 You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. 3 You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. 4 Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD. 5 You hem me in—behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. 7 Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? 8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. 9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, 10 even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. 11 If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me," 12 even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you. 13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. 14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. 15 My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, 16 your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. 17 How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! 18 Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. When I awake, I am still with you.

(Left- ancient Celtic cross in St. Patrick's in Dublin)
(Above-The wings of the Dawn- Brookgreen Gardens, SC)

Thoughts: There is no place to hide from God- not in the heights of heaven nor in the depths of hell. God finds us. In the light or in the dark; In the open air or in the womb; God knows us, loves us, and helps us- guiding us, holding us fast. When doctors do not know enough, God knows- for He made us. Not one cell, one molecule- not one atom or subatomic particle-- that makes us who we are is hidden from Him. 
The real St. Patrick was kidnapped from his home in Scotland and brought to Ireland, and raised by a druid priest.  Patrick used this terrible event to win most of Ireland to Christ- learning the language and seeing how the people needed light for their darkness. He was arrested at least 12 times, but he persevered. He knew deeply that God always saw Him and protected Him in the midst of trouble.  Patrick is a lesson in gentleness and perseverance to all who are sick or in need.



Prayer (From St. Patrick's Breastplate Prayer):
Christ be with me, Christ 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 in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all that love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.