As we honor St. Patrick on March 17 and approach the first day of spring, let us look and see God in all of creation.
Christ above me, Christ below me, Christ to my right, Christ to my left, Christ behind and Christ before.
These were the words of St. Patrick. We celebrate St. Patrick’s Day on March 17. We bring out all the green things and have a good time together.
Patrick was a great missionary of the church. It was through the call of Patrick to Ireland that Ireland became a Christian nation. Patrick preached and taught and organized the church in Ireland and at the time of his death, Ireland was a Christian nation. Let us remember Patrick as we celebrate the feast day.
The Celtic tradition, of which Patrick is so much a part, helps us live into the love of God, for the love of God is the fount of the Celtic tradition. John, the beloved disciple leaning upon the breast of Jesus, is an image which the Celtic tradition loves. The Celts believe that God is imminent in all creation. The beauty of the spring flowers, the green of grass, the glory of the sunrise, the beauty of the sunset, are all God’s gifts for us. The Psalms indeed echo the Celtic conviction that –God speaks to us through the creative world.
We sing the lovely hymn “Be Thou My Vision, O Lord of My Heart.” It’s an Irish hymn. It comes from the tradition of Patrick. May we sing it; may we love God who so loves us during this Holy season. Happy St. Patrick’s Day.