{"id":1469,"date":"2011-03-17T01:49:01","date_gmt":"2011-03-17T01:49:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/markdroberts\/2011\/03\/st-patricks-day-blank.html"},"modified":"2011-03-17T01:49:01","modified_gmt":"2011-03-17T01:49:01","slug":"st-patricks-day-blank","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/2011\/03\/st-patricks-day-blank.html","title":{"rendered":"In Honor of St. Patrick"},"content":{"rendered":"

In Honor of St. Patrick<\/h2>\n
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\n<\/div>\n
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\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n<\/div>\n

READ Genesis 50:14-23<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

“You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He
\nbrought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.”<\/p>\n

\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n<\/div>\n

Genesis 50:20<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n

Today is St. Patrick’s Day. Most people think of
\nthis day as a time for wearing green and that’s about it (unless you’re
\nIrish!). St. Patrick gets relatively little attention on his day, so I
\nthought I might offer a few thoughts in his honor, including a prayer
\nthat is attributed to him. (Photo: Statue of St. Patrick, Aghagower, County Mayo, Ireland)<\/p>\n

\"st-patrick-statue-3.jpg\"<\/span><\/p>\n

Patrick’s story reads like an Indiana Jones-type adventure. Raised in
\nBritain (yes, not Ireland), Patrick was captured by pirates in A.D. 405
\nwhen he was only sixteen years old. The kidnappers whisked him away to
\nIreland and sold Patrick into slavery. He spent eight years as a captive
\nin this pagan land. <\/p>\n

During his captivity, Patrick embraced the Christian faith of his
\nupbringing, something that had mattered little to him beforehand. In his
\nown words, Patrick explained: “And there the Lord opened the sense of
\nmy unbelief that I might at last remember my sins and be converted with
\nall my heart to the Lord my God, who had regard for my abjection, and
\nmercy on my youth and ignorance, and watched over me before I knew Him,
\nand before I was able to distinguish between good and evil, and guarded
\nme, and comforted me as would a father his son” (from The Confession of St. Patrick<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Inspired by a dream, Patrick finally escaped from Ireland and made
\nhis way back to his home in Britain. But, in time, he sensed God’s call
\nto return to Ireland, of all places, in order to share the good news of
\nChrist with the pagans there. Even though he feared he wasn’t
\nsufficiently learned to be a missionary, Patrick returned to Ireland,
\nwhere he found unprecedented success in his evangelistic endeavors. His
\nexperience of Irish language and culture during his years as a slave
\nenabled Patrick to communicate the Christian gospel with unusual
\neffectiveness.<\/p>\n

Though we can’t be sure when Patrick died, tradition holds that he
\nlived into his seventies and died on March 17 in the latter half of the
\nfifth-century A.D. In twenty-five or thirty years of evangelistic work,
\nhe led thousands of Irish pagans to Christ and was responsible for
\nIreland’s becoming one of the most Christian nations in Europe. For this
\nreason he is called “the apostle of the Irish.”<\/p>\n

The story of Patrick reminds me, in a way, of Joseph’s experience in
\nEgypt. In both cases, what kidnappers and slave masters intended for
\nevil, God intended for good (Gen. 50:20). Today I want to celebrate, not
\nonly Patrick’s example of faithfulness, but also the mystery and
\nmajesty of God’s redemptive sovereignty. It’s not unusual for people who
\nhave experienced some particular trauma in life to end up ministering
\nto others who suffer that same trauma. A friend of mine, for example,
\nwho was sexually abused by her pastor when she was a teenager, now has a
\ntenderhearted ministry to women who have experienced similar abuse.
\nThus, St. Patrick serves as an example of how God can work all things
\ntogether for good, even things which are quite evil.<\/p>\n

Our closing prayer today is attributed to St. Patrick, sometimes
\ncalled his “Breastplate.” There are many different versions of this
\nprayer, and we can’t be sure it originated with Patrick. Nevertheless,
\nit faithfully represents his powerful faith in the triune God. The first
\nline “I arise today” is sometimes translated as “I bind unto myself
\ntoday.”<\/p>\n

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECT<\/b><\/strong>ION<\/b>: Were you aware of the real St. Patrick? How has God used difficult and even evil things in your life for good?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n

PRAYER<\/b>:
I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through the belief in the threeness,
Through confession of the oneness,
Of the Creator of Creation.<\/p>\n

I arise today
Through the strength of Christ’s birth with his baptism,
Through the strength of his crucifixion with his burial,
Through the strength of his resurrection with his ascension,
Through the strength of his descent for the judgment of Doom.<\/p>\n

I arise today
Through the strength of the love of Cherubim,
In obedience of angels,
In the service of archangels,
In hope of resurrection to meet with reward,
In prayers of patriarchs,
In predictions of prophets,
In preaching of apostles,
In faith of confessors,
In innocence of holy virgins,
In deeds of righteous men.<\/p>\n

I arise today
Through the strength of heaven:
Light of sun,
Radiance of moon,
Splendor of fire,
Speed of lightning,
Swiftness of wind,
Depth of sea,
Stability of earth,
Firmness of rock.<\/p>\n

I arise today
Through God’s strength to pilot me:
God’s might to uphold me,
God’s wisdom to guide me,
God’s eye to look before me,
God’s ear to hear me,
God’s word to speak for me,
God’s hand to guard me,
God’s way to lie before me,
God’s shield to protect me,
God’s host to save me
From snares of devils,
From temptations of vices,
From everyone who shall wish me ill,
Afar and anear,
Alone and in multitude.<\/p>\n

I summon today all these powers between me and those evils,
Against every cruel merciless power that may oppose my body and soul,
Against incantations of false prophets,
Against black laws of pagandom
Against false laws of heretics,
Against craft of idolatry,
Against spells of witches and smiths and wizards,
Against every knowledge that corrupts man’s body and soul.<\/p>\n

Christ to shield me today
Against poison, against burning,
Against drowning, against wounding,
So that there may come to me abundance of reward.<\/p>\n

Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.<\/p>\n

I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through belief in the threeness,
Through confession of the oneness,
Of the Creator of Creation.<\/p>\n

Ame<\/em>n.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

_________________________________________________<\/p>\n

<\/a>Would you like to receive a Daily Reflection like this one in your email inbox each morning?  <\/p>\n

Here’s how . . . .<\/em><\/strong> This devotional comes from The High Calling: Everyday Conversations about Work, Life, and God <\/em>(www.thehighcalling.org<\/a>). You can read my Daily Reflections there, or sign up to have them sent to your email inbox each day. This website contains lots of encouragement for people who are trying to live out their faith in the workplace. The High Calling<\/i> is associated with Laity Lodge, where I work.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In Honor of St. Patrick READ Genesis 50:14-23 “You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.” Genesis 50:20 Today is St. Patrick’s Day. Most people think of this day as a time for wearing green and…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":214,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[157],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1469","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-holidays"],"yoast_head":"\nIn Honor of St. Patrick - Mark D. 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Roberts","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-content\/wphb-cache\/gravatar\/f2d\/f2ddf5f080861f66ea230384f9d1bab2x96.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-content\/wphb-cache\/gravatar\/f2d\/f2ddf5f080861f66ea230384f9d1bab2x96.jpg","caption":"Mark D. Roberts"},"description":"The Rev. Dr. Mark D. Roberts is a pastor, author, retreat leader, speaker, and blogger. Since October 2007 he has been the Senior Director and Scholar-in-Residence for Laity Lodge, a multifaceted ministry in the Hill Country of Texas. Before coming to Laity Lodge, he was for sixteen years the Senior Pastor of Irvine Presbyterian Church in Irvine, California (a city in Orange County about forty miles south of Los Angeles). Before his time at Irvine Pres, Mark served on the staff of the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood as Associate Pastor of Education. (Thanks to Janel Pahl for taking the photo to the right.) Mark studied at Harvard University, receiving a B.A. in Philosophy, an M.A. in the Study of Religion, and a Ph.D. in New Testament and Christian Origins. He has taught classes in New Testament for Fuller Theological Seminary and San Francisco Theological Seminary. Mark has written several books, including No Holds Barred: Wrestling with God in Prayer (WaterBrook, 2005), Dare to Be True (WaterBrook, 2003), Jesus Revealed (WaterBrook, 2002), After \"I Believe\" (Baker, 2002), and Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther (Word, 1993). His most recent book is Can We Trust the Gospels? Investigating the Reliability of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John (Crossway, 2007). He is currently working on a commentary on Ephesians that will be published by Zondervan in 2014. Mark writes a devotional for The High Calling of Our Daily Work, a website associated with Laity Lodge. His \"Daily Reflections\" can be viewed online or sent as a daily email. If you wish to receive this email, just visit TheHighCalling.org and sign up. Mark serves on the editorial board of Worship Leader magazine, where he publishes articles and reviews, including his regular column \"Lyrical Poetry.\" Additionally, he has published dozens of articles in leading magazines and journals. He often speaks for churches and other Christian groups, and has been interviewed on over seventy-five radio programs nationwide. Mark is married to Linda, who is a Marriage and Family Therapist, a Spiritual Director, and a retreat speaker. They have two children, Nathan and Kara.For Publicity Photos and Bio Statements for Mark, please check here. Mark's Dossier Professional History: Senior Director and Scholar-in Residence, Laity Lodge, October 2007 to present. Senior Pastor Irvine Presbyterian Church, June 1991 to September 2007 Adjunct Assistant Professor Fuller Theological Seminary, 1994 to 2007. Courses: New Testament Theology and Exegesis. Adjunct Instructor San Francisco Theological Seminary, 1995 to 2001. Courses: New Testament Greek and Exegesis Associate Pastor of Education First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood, 1987-1991 Teaching Fellow Harvard University, 1980-1983 Education: Ph.D. in the Study of Religion. Harvard University, 1992. Area: New Testament and Christian Origins M.A. in the Study of Religion Harvard University, 1984. A.B. magna cum laude in Philosophy Harvard University, 1979. Phi Beta Kappa; Danforth Fellowship Books: Can We Trust the Gospels? Investigating the Reliability of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Crossway, 2007 No Holds Barred: Wrestling with God in Prayer. WaterBrook, 2005 Dare to Be True: Living in the Freedom of Complete Honesty. WaterBrook, 2003. Jesus Revealed: Know Him Better to Love Him Better. WaterBrook, 2002. After \"I Believe\": Experiencing Authentic Christian Living. Baker, 2002. Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther in the Communicator's Commentary Series. Word, 1993. Contacting Mark: You can reach Mark at: E-mail: mark@markdroberts.com mroberts@laitylodge.org Phone: Laity Lodge: (830) 792-1216 Address: Laity Lodge 719 Earl Garrett Kerrville, TX 78028","url":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/author\/mroberts"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1469","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/214"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1469"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1469\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1469"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1469"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/markdroberts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1469"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}