March 17, 2026
Today is Saint Patrick’s Day, the patron Saint of Ireland. It’s not much of a genius statement to say that Ireland does not like England and for some very, very legitimate reasons. But it is also fair to say that Ireland and people of Irish background embrace St. Patrick and Saint Patrick’s Day with unbridled enthusiasm. What is curious about this is that Patrick was English.
Patrick was captured as an English child by Irish raiders and he was sold into slavery and ended up in Rome. He became Christian, but he also escaped his slavery, and went back home. Patrick then felt called by God to go back to Ireland, to the people who had ruined his life, and share the good news of God in Christ. That is forgiveness and graciousness.
Let us pray: Father in Heaven, help us to remember today Saint Patrick and how he swallowed his pride and he embraced his faith and he shared the beauty of that faith with the Irish people. We give you thanks for all of the people of faith who have changed history. In Jesus’s Name, Amen.