reclaiming the meaning of St. Patrick’s Day

As the world is celebrating St. Patrick’s Day by wearing green, drinking, dressing up as leprechauns and finding gold at the end of rainbows, I came to find a deeper meaning to this day, one named after one of God’s greatest servants: Saint Patrick.  

Saint Patrick was a man who walked closely with God. He lived a life surrendered to the Holy Spirit. Here are just a few accounts of his life in Ireland: 

• While stranded at sea without food, the pagan sailors mocked St. Patrick’s God, until Saint Patrick prayed and a herd of pigs appeared. From then on, they never lacked.
• Saint Patrick is said to have raised 33 people from the dead. He also experienced visions and dreams that later came true.
• Saint Patrick converted many in Ireland from paganism, spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ across the land.

…So how did we get here today?

The reasons why the world transformed this day into one of worldly pursuits matters less than this: who will keep his legacy alive?

Because if we’re honest: it wasn’t even his legacy to begin with, but a legacy that began before the foundations of the earth. A burden we as Christian’s should not bear lightly. 

“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.” — 2 Corinthians 4:7 (NKJV)

The same power that was at work in Saint Patrick, is at work in you. 

Every Christian has a great treasure, the Holy Spirit indwelling in them. We all have the capability to do these “greater works” that the Lord said we would do. Us as a church are not weaker, the church is just not walking in its true identity. 

Although we have the Holy Spirit, I want to ask: How much does the Holy Spirit have you? How much are you willing to surrender to Him before going your own way? It is true that we have this treasure, Jesus Christ, but it’s only those who are yielded to Him that will experience the strength, miracles, and wonders of a transformed life.