I did a little research this morning on Saint Patrick and the meaning of March 17th... It turns out St. Patrick's day is much more than a drunken celebration of green beer, parades, and shamrocks. According to my online research, Saint Patrick was actually born in Britain, but was kidnapped by the Irish when he was 16. He escaped captivity and fled back to Britain, however, later in life he felt called by God to retun to Ireland to save the Irish. By this time, Patick was a bishop... he was well-respected by the wealthy, while being a friend to the poor. He often used the ever-so-popular shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity to the Irish. Saint Patrick spent nearly 30 years dedicating his life to sharing the love of Christ to the people of Ireland before he died on March 17, 461 AD.
Interesting how God plays such a crucial role in our traditons and celebrations. Yet, often times, we are completely unaware of His presence or choose to push Him aside all together.
"I assure you, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life."
- John 5:24 NLT
Happy St. Patrick's Day! (in the truest form)
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