March Letter 2007

Spring is arriving and we will soon rediscover the brilliant, green, life-filled world around us. Lawns will need mowed, bushes pruned, flowers gardened, and much more in terms of “yard work.” The abundance of green and the liveliness that accompanies the color is well captured in the energetic celebrations of St. Patrick’s Day the world over. Many will wear green lest they be pinched, many will eat Irish food, and many will drink Irish drink. No matter how you choose to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day (or if you choose to do so), pause to consider an interesting tale that grows from the man behind the day.

St. Patrick, born of the name Maewyn, took up a mission to Ireland to establish monasteries, schools, and make converts to the Catholic faith. Very successful at all three, St. Patrick retired after thirty years of service to the Church and to Ireland. His death on March 17th, 461 CE has been commemorated as St. Patrick’s Day ever since.

Many stories circulate about his mission work. There are stories claiming that St. Patrick raised people from the dead. Other stories claim he drove out all the snakes from Ireland (keep in mind snakes were never native). Although these are unsubstantiated tales, there is one that might speak to us today. It is said that the shamrock (three-leaf clover) is so closely related to the celebrations of St. Patrick’s Day because St. Patrick himself used it as a sort of sermon illustration. To better conceptualize the idea of the Trinity, St. Patrick held up a shamrock to demonstrate the connectedness of three separate persons in the one God-head.

As we reflect on our thoughts of God this month, may we recognize the many different ways we can come to see God. Some see God in a shamrock, others in a mountain, still others in a river. All of these natural symbols have their own way of expressing the beautiful depth and complexity of our God: a God of individuality and a God of community; a God of Majesty and Awe; a God of ever-flowing life. May the green color of St. Patrick’s Day and the shamrock itself point us toward the abundant life that flows from God. May we revel in that God-given life and use it for the Glory of the Kingdom of God.