Happy Saint Patrick's Day!

If you're not wearing green, don't panic - in my experience that's a relatively Irish thing to do (NOT wearing green, that is). The year I lived in Northern Ireland (granted, it was a Protestant part of the Province), St. Patrick's Day came and went without any of the fanfare we associate with it in the United States - it's a SAINT'S day, after all, which means you go to church if you're Catholic. And many Loyalists/Protestants would wear orange before they wear green, but the explanation for that can wait until another day (in the meantime, however, please continue to pray for lasting peace in Northern Ireland - friends of mine there are nervous about the growing violence and are afraid of a return to the Troubles).

It seems to me that Saint Patrick's Day is celebrated in the US the way so many other holidays are - as an excuse to behave in ways one might not otherwise, to spend money that's not so necessary to spend, and to find kitschy outfits and decorations to somehow prove something. What's going on here?

Perhaps it's time to remember the man behind the day. To that end, this History Channel website has some interesting articles, about Patrick and about Ireland in general. Hope you find it interesting.

We would also do well to think about the faith that inspired Patrick. There's a hymn in our hymnal based on St. Patrick's breastplate, which always serves to remind me that God's really not so far away and that the here and now can be holy - filled with the presence of Christ. It's number 450 in the ELW. Here's the 4th verse:
Christ be with me, Christ within me, Christ behind me, Christ before me Christ beside me, Christ to win me, Christ to comfort and restore me.
Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ in quiet, Christ in danger, Christ in hearts of all that love me, Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.

God bless you on this day and always!