St. Patrick's Day

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” – Matthew 5:42-44

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Today we celebrate an Irish holiday that is more than just wearing green and drinking Shamrock Shakes. It is a day to celebrate the life and ministry of St. Patrick. St. Patrick was a Catholic priest who took Jesus’ words in Matthew 5 to heart.

St. Patrick grew up in Britain and when he was sixteen he was captured by Irish invaders and taken back to Ireland where he was held as a slave for six years until he escaped and returned to Britain. There he trained to become a priest in the Catholic Church and then returned to Ireland as a missionary to bring the love of Christ to the very people that had enslaved him. By loving his enemies he brought Christianity to Ireland and is thought to be the first to speak out against slavery which was a commonly accepted practice in those days.

Although loving those who persecute you is often a difficult thing to do, imagine what God can do when we put aside our disagreements, resentment, anger and bitterness and reach out with Christ’s love and forgiveness.

Prayer: Loving God, I thank you for people like St. Patrick who are able to love those who persecute them. Help me to work toward loving those who persecute me and to pray for them so that they can see the love of Christ in me. Amen.

Faith Tip: Do you hold a grudge against someone, are you unable to forgive? If so pray for that person today and take a step toward moving closer to loving them.

Written by Pastor Aaron Anderson