GREEN IS THE COLOR OF JESUS

Grab your shillelagh and dance a jig. Tomorrow we celebrate St. Patrick’s Day! 

That reminds me of Jesus. 

Amid the hoopla, few of us stop to remember that St. Patrick’s Day is first and foremost a Christian Holy Day, set aside to honor a Saint of the Roman Catholic Church. 

Although some details of Patrick’s life have been lost over time, we know he was born in the fifth century, the son of wealthy Roman citizens in Britain, Scotland or Wales. He was kidnapped as a youth and taken to Ireland where he lived as a slave.  

Patrick later escaped to the European continent, where he became a priest in the Roman Catholic Church. He then returned to Ireland to convert the pagans to Christianity. 

Because Patrick had lived in Ireland, he knew the language, the culture and the ways of the Irish people. He therefore was able to share Christ in ways they could understand—explaining the Trinity, for example, as similar to the way the three leaves of the shamrock were separate and yet still part of the same plant.  

Patrick was much loved by the Irish people. After his death, the local Catholic Church cannonized him as a Saint. St. Patrick remains the Patron Saint of Ireland.  

Tomorrow when we don our green (and pinch our friends who aren’t wearing any), search for lepruchans, and simmer our corned beef and cabbage, let’s not forget to praise God for the way He can use us wherever we are; how He can turn even kidnapping and slavery into something that glorifies Him.  

Let’s celebrate St. Patrick’s day by dancing a jig, because the day reminds us of Jesus.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, please use us today for your plan. Take even the bad things in our lives and use them for your good and for your glory. Thank you for using other people to bring us to you. Amen. 

WHAT ABOUT YOU? What’s your favorite way to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day? Are you really Irish?