Jer. 7:21-34
Rom. 4:13-25
John 7:37-52
Rom. 4:13-25
13For the promise that he would inherit the world did not come to Abraham or to his descendants through the law but through the righteousness of faith. 14If it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. 15For the law brings wrath; but where there is no law, neither is there violation. 16For this reason it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his descendants, not only to the adherents of the law but also to those who share the faith of Abraham (for he is the father of all of us, 17as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations”)—in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. 18Hoping against hope, he believed that he would become “the father of many nations,” according to what was said, “So numerous shall your descendants be.” 19He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was already as good as dead (for he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah’s womb. 20No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, 21being fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. 22Therefore his faith “was reckoned to him as righteousness.” 23Now the words, “it was reckoned to him,” were written not for his sake alone, 24but for ours also. It will be reckoned to us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, 25who was handed over to death for our trespasses and was raised for our justification.
We are about half way on our journey to Easter. Today is St. Patrick’s Day. It seems fitting that the feast day for a man like Patrick should be found in mid-Lent. Most people know the story of Patrick. He was born in the 4th century CE. As a young boy he was kidnapped and forced into slavery in Ireland. After his release and conversion, he heard God call him to return to Ireland and his captors. His obedience resulted in the conversion of the Irish Celts to Christianity. It was these same Christians who kept many of the scrolls of the church safe during the Dark Ages.Paul writes to the Romans that righteousness depends on faith (rather than Law). He says, “For this reason it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his descendants, not only to the adherents of the law but also to those who share the faith of Abraham (for he is the father of all of us, as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations.”)” Paul is explaining that Abraham, father of the Jewish people, is also the spiritual father of all people.
As an evangelist to the Celts, Patrick might have kept this verse in mind, as he converted the people of Ireland by his life among them. By his words and actions, he lived his faith and demonstrated the power of Christianity. The Irish kings could see his intimate relationship with God and were converted because of it.
Patrick’s life was evidence that he believed Christ was present in all aspects of life, as is found in the chant that bears his name (St. Patrick’s Breastplate):
Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.
Few of us are called to evangelize a pagan people like the Celts of ancient Ireland, but we are called to live our faith in the midst of a secular world. How can we show the grace of Christ in our lives to those with whom we live and work? In what ways is your intimacy with God revealed in your life?
For your journal: Patrick and Paul were both missionaries and evangelists to non-Jewish peoples. In honor of Patrick, draw a shamrock. On each leaf write the name of a person you can pray for and/or share your faith with.
