Thursday March 17th is a day to celebrate and honor St. Patrick (born AD 386). While many will turn it into yet another reason to drink too much beer, many of us live the day with more reverence. When you realize the character, power and authority of this man in the 5th century, you can’t help but be inspired.
Patrick was captured as a teenager from his hometown in England and taken to Ireland by pirates. He was sold to a man in the North named Milchu, who was a high priest of druidism (basically demonic nature worship). Milchu assigned him to care for his livestock, and during that time Patrick came to know the one true God and grew in his faith.
After escaping and attending ministry school, Patrick chose to return to the very place he was enslaved – not to exact vengeance, but to share the good news of Jesus, the creator God. You can still visit the place where he planted the first Christian church in a place now called Downpatrick.
Upon arriving with a small band of other monks in the year 432, Patrick stirred things up right away. In 433, his intention was to celebrate Easter with the ceremonial paschal bonfire on Saturday evening, the night before Easter Sunday. The high king of the north who resided at the hill of Tara only ten miles away forbade anyone else to light a bonfire prior to his own bonfire to worship the druidic gods. Gathered with his men, Patrick defied the King by lighting a grand fire on the top of the hill of Slane – in plane view of the indignant King Laeghaire.
The King’s priests warn the king, saying that unless he extinguishes the fire that very night, it will grow and outshine all the fires of Ireland. The druidic priests had predicted that a man would come from across the sea, and he would destroy the kingdom and their gods if he allowed it. Their saying…
“There will come a man with a shaved head
And a stick curved at the top
He will chant evil words
From a table at the front of his house
And his people will say: “Amen, let it be so”
King Laeghaire sent his men with nine chariots to kill Patrick and put out the fire. They could do neither, and one druid named Erc ended up coming to faith in Jesus that night. Later Erc would become the bishop of Slane.
Patrick and his men visited the King the next day on Easter, unafraid of his threats. After they tried to poison Patrick at the feast they were having – they challenged Patrick to show that His God was more powerful than their gods. Thousands of people stood waiting to see what would happen.
One book recounted the events that unfolded this way:
Patrick asked, “What kind of miracle would you like me to do?”
“Let us call down snow on the land,” the sorcerer replied.
“I do not wish to do anything contrary to God and nature,” said Patrick.
“You are afraid you will fail,” exclaimed the Druid. “But I can do it.” The druid uttered magic spells and called down snow from the sky so that it covered the whole plain up to the depth of a man’s waist.
“We have seen what harm you can do,” said Patrick. “Now make the snow disappear.”
“I do not have the power to remove it until tomorrow,” said Lucet Máel.
Patrick said, “Ah you are powerful for evil, not for good. Very different is the gift bestowed on the messenger of the Giver of all Good.” Then he raised his hands and blessed the whole plain so that the snow disappeared in an instant.
The crowd was amazed and cheered for the holy man. But the druids were very angry. Next, Lucet invoked his evil gods and called down darkness on the whole land. The people were frightened and begged him to bring back the light, but he could not. So, Patrick prayed to God and straightaway the sun shone forth and all the people shouted with joy.
The king would not yield to the one true God, but the queen and her daughters were joined by thousands of others who put their faith in the God of Patrick. This was a testament to what Patrick’s ministry in Ireland was like. He was one who raised at least 30 people from the dead and one horse.
Like Pharaoh’s magicians, the druids had some power given to them by their gods. And just as Moses performed miracles with God’s power, so Patrick walked in great authority. With Moses and Patrick, the power of God was put on display because the limited power of false gods had been seen and the people needed to see that God was more powerful and deserved their trust.
We believe God is still working miracles and doing the impossible. As we celebrate a godly man who gave his life for a small island nation in the Atlantic Ocean, let us pray with faith and believe that God is still healing and saving people today.
This photo was taken at The "Saul Church"- site of the first church in Ireland.
I look forward to seeing you at our Sunday Worship Service in the Dome beginning at 10:00 a.m.
You can also live stream our 10:00 a.m. service on Facebook and YouTube.
