Today is St. Patrick’s Day. It’s a popular holiday where I live, and lots of people go out to celebrate with food, drink and festivities. I sometimes wonder how many of these joyful observers of St. Patrick’s Day take time to consider who St. Patrick really was.
It’s too bad more people don’t consider his story, because St. Patrick can help us gain essential insights into what God’s love looks like in action. His story is one of radical forgiveness and reconciliation, giving us a model for a life in God which continues to be relevant to this day.
Patrick is associated with Ireland, but he wasn’t born there. He came to Ireland after he was captured by pirates at the age of 16. In Ireland, he spent 6 years as a slave until he was able to escape his captors and return to be reunited with his family.
If I had been captured and enslaved, the last thing I would want to do would be to return to the place of my enslavement. However, this is exactly what Patrick did. He stated that God had put the people of the island of Ireland on his heart. He returned to them in order to teach them about God’s love and became one of the most important evangelists in the history of the Christian church.
“But to you who are listening, I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,”
Luke 6:27
As we celebrate this holiday today, I encourage you to invite God to give you a heart like that of Patrick. A heart that loves your enemies and desires good for those who hurt you.
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